Transmission line overflights taking place around North Coast this week
- LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said it is conducting aerial patrols in Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake and Humboldt counties this week as part of efforts to reduce wildfire risk in its service area.
Scheduled helicopter patrols are part of the company’s Vegetation Management Program to detect dead or dying trees.
The patrols, which began on Monday, will occur along several electric transmission lines located in the following areas:
• Lake County: Clearlake, Lower Lake, Kelseyville, Middletown, Lucerne, Clearlake Oaks, Upper Lake, Lakeport, Cobb (The Geysers).
• Humboldt County: Humboldt Bay, Orrick.
• Marin County: Sausalito, San Rafael, Bolinas, Novato, Olema.
• Mendocino County: Hopland, Mendocino, Gualala, Fort Bragg, Philo, Ukiah, Elk, Point Arena.
• Napa County: Napa, Calistoga, St. Helena.
• Sonoma County: Healdsburg, Geyserville, Fort Ross, Santa Rosa, Cotati, Cloverdale, Monte Rio, Windsor, Jenner, Annapolis.
“Helicopter patrols allow our crews to identify hazard trees that could pose a safety risk, just one of the many ways PG&E is working to manage trees and other vegetation located near powerlines,” said Ron Richardson, regional vice president for PG&E’s North Coast Region.
Depending on the weather conditions, foresters will fly a Bell 407 from the Ukiah Municipal Airport to the transmission lines and back for refueling. Flights may be as low as 300 feet and could be between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Flights are expected to conclude by end of day Friday, Oct. 28; however, weather delays may push flights to additional days.
Helicopters may reach higher elevations in areas where livestock are present. If determined necessary by a spotter from the helicopters, PG&E will send ground crews to conduct further inspections.
PG&E is using helicopters to inspect the trees along transmission lines within high fire-threat districts, as outlined by the California Public Utilities Commission, across Northern and Central California through the end of the year.