Community Corner
PG&E Surveys Power Lines By Helicopter In Napa, Sonoma Counties
The flights are scheduled to take place on weekdays through the month of September over the communities listed below.
NAPA AND SONOMA COUNTIES, CA — Pacific Gas and Electric Company is surveying distribution power lines in high fire risk areas of Napa and Sonoma counties through September using helicopters equipped with Light Detection and Ranging —LiDAR — technology.
The surveys are to collect more data on PG&E’s power lines, poles and their surrounding environment in Tier 2 and Tier 3 High Fire-Threat Districts, as outlined by the California Public Utilities Commission, PG&E said in a news release.
Flight areas include the following cities and surrounding the PG&E substations located within:
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- Napa
- Yountville
- Calistoga
- Santa Rosa's Rincon Valley
- Fitch Mountain
- Geyserville
- Sonoma Valley
- Monte Rio
- Fort Ross
The LiDAR-equipped helicopter surveys help gather information for PG&E’s mapping system by capturing imagery that can be analyzed to take measurements, reveal patterns and identify any potential risks, PG&E said.
Two helicopters, most likely with the tail numbers N493PJ or N79PJ, will fly low — from 200-500 feet — between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. each weekday.
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Flights will come and go from the Vacaville Nut Tree Airport.
For more information on the helicopter surveys, PG&E said residents can call 1-877-295-4949 or send an email to wildfiresafety@pge.com.
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