May 2025
LIGH
READING
Essential information for this wildfire season
What you need to know about Inland Power’s fire safety mode.
W
ildfire season has increasingly posed challenges in our region in recent years. Since 2024, Washington state has recognized May as Wildfire Awareness Month. This initiative provides an excellent opportunity to discuss and learn about safety measures everyone can adopt during wildfire season. Utilities across the region are actively implementing preventive strategies to address these threats through wildfire mitigation plans. These strategies involve vegetation management, as well as strategic tree pruning and removal, to keep power lines clear, enhancing public safety and grid security. Inland Power also diligently monitors our service territory, particularly in areas at moderate to high risk for wildfires. When necessary, we will switch these regions to non-reclose or “fire safety mode” within our system. What is fire safety mode? Fire safety mode represents an alternative operational strategy for our electrical distribution system, prioritizing system security and public safety over regular operations, which may lead to increased service interruptions.
Under normal circumstances, when an external object, like a tree branch, contacts our power lines, our devices detect the short circuit, briefly interrupt power, and then try to automatically restore it. If the obstruction is cleared, power is reestablished quickly, resulting in only a minor service interruption or blink. However, in fire safety mode, this automatic restoration functionality is turned off (non-reclose) in areas identified as having a higher wildfire risk. Consequently, service disruptions that would typically be momentary will instead be prolonged, necessitating a crew to manually inspect and restore power. Fire safety mode is currently scheduled to commence around June 1, 2025; however, this date may change depending on weather conditions. Once initiated, fire safety mode will remain active throughout the dry season and will only be deactivated when burn bans are lifted and cooler weather returns. How can I determine if I reside in a region with a heightened risk of wildfires? Regions characterized by forested land and a significant level of human activity typically have an increased wildfire risk. This risk is mainly concentrated in the
central and northern sections of our service area, particularly in the vicinity of the Little Spokane River natural area, which is located outside city limits. What steps can I take to prepare? If you have a tree on your property that is dead, dying, or uprooted and poses a risk of falling into overhead power lines, please reach out to our office to schedule a visit with one of our vegetation management specialists. They will assess the tree and arrange for its removal if necessary. Maintaining trimmed vegetation and clearing excess fuel sources, such as brush piles and debris, around your buildings can help create a defensible space around your home. This will reduce the risk of combustion and assist firefighters in protecting your property during a wildfire. For additional guidance on wildfire risk mitigation, consult local land management authorities. Spokane County residents can find more information by visiting the Spokane County Conservation District website at spokanecd.org or the Lincoln County Conservation District website at lincolncd.com. lincolncd.com
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