Every year, between October and February the Santa Ana winds flow down the valleys and canyons of California picking up speed. As the winds increase so does the likelihood of fire. Electrical/power lines have caused four out of 20 of the worst fires in Californian history. Fires like the Sesnon fire which is, by all accounts now 100% contained, happen with tragic regularity, they are almost predictable but the system still doesn’t seem to be able to respond to such seasonal regularity, until recently:
It wasn’t until last year’s siege of flames that regulators and lawmakers began seriously considering a coordinated response to the problem. A 2001 report (pdf) by state fire officials and utilities called for greater information sharing and a database containing tree inventories and historic fire hazard zones, yet it was never developed.
Complicating matters is that there’s no single agency in charge of regulating power lines or enforcing fire codes. The line that caused the Sesnon fire is owned by Southern California Gas Co. — which isn’t an electrical utility, so its lines aren’t regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission, and PUC rules that govern brush clearance and other precautions don’t apply. It’s unclear whether any government agency had oversight over the line.
Not that government regulations guarantee safety. A PUC report released last month on the 2007 San Diego County blazes found that San Diego Gas & Electric violated regulations for safety and maintenance on lines that caused the devastating Witch and Rice fires. It also concluded that the Guejito fire was caused by a Cox Communications wire that came into contact with an SDG&E conductor during strong Santa Ana winds; Cox, too, was deemed in violation of state rules. The findings have yet to be confirmed by the PUC board, which also must decide whether to fine those responsible.
Most troubling of all: The PUC’s Consumer Protection and Safety Division found that there are other power poles in San Diego County with broken communication wires similar to the one that caused the Guejito fire. More strong Santa Ana winds are expected to gust through the area in coming weeks. Sleep well, San Diego.
So why has this problem been ignored for so long?
The best solution — burying the lines — is so expensive as to be wildly impractical, costing an estimated $1 million a mile. But there are other responses. State lawmakers could start by demanding the creation of the fire database that was recommended in 2001. It’s also outrageous that owners of private power lines like the one that sparked the Sesnon fire are being left unmonitored.
Not all is lost however. There have been some brilliant innovations. Like the following from the LA Fire Department. Yup, you’ve guessed it – using social media: In complex emergencies – feedback is key – and using social media is a fantastic way of getting it quickly – so have a look at some of the comments.
