PG&E Extends Deadline For North Bay Wood Removal

NAPA AND SONOMA COUNTIES, CA — In response to customer and community requests, Pacific Gas and Electric Company has continued reaching out to landowners in Sonoma and Napa counties to gather and haul away wood that was cut down by PG&E and contractors following the 2020 LNU Lightning Complex and Glass fires.

The deadline for landowners to submit permission forms to authorize PG&E to do this work has been extended to Sept. 14, a spokesperson for the utility company said Tuesday.

As PG&E crews and crews contracted for vegetation management worked after the fires to restore power, they inspected and cut down hazardous trees that posed a potential safety risk to work crews or electric equipment. The work was done in coordination with Cal Fire and other agencies that responded to the wildfires, PG&E Spokesperson Deanna Contreras said.

After completing the tree work, crews chipped wood less than 4 inches in diameter and, where possible, spread the wood chips at the respective sites. Because wood is considered the property of the landowner, Contreras said, any pieces larger than 4 inches in diameter were left at the sites.

Although there was no legal or regulatory requirement to remove larger pieces of wood, crews have been returning to those sites and asking landowners if they would allow PG&E to dispose of it.

Property owners who are interested in the Wood Management Program and have safely accessible wood from trees that PG&E felled, should call 1-877-295-4949 or email wildfiresafety@pge.com, Contreras said.

PG&E noted that crews performing the wood removal are contracted by PG&E and will provide identification upon request.