Matt Bellott’s Post

Any guesses which fire I was on? Which month? How do you reduce this fire intensity and threat to homes and infrastructure? Fuel reduction, the spring and early summer are the time to do it. Wildland fuel reduction, crucial for protecting houses and communities from wildfires, benefits greatly from firms like RK Contractors. With expertise in fuels reduction projects, RK ensures efficient execution of tasks like power line clearing and shaded fuel breaks. Their focus on safety and compliance minimizes risks to personnel and ecosystems. Collaborating with local stakeholders, RK tailors strategies to specific conditions, ensuring effective, inclusive, and sustainable initiatives. In essence, RK Contractors' expertise and dedication are essential for mitigating wildfire risks and safeguarding communities through fuel reduction efforts. Visit our website at Rkcontractorsinc.com Thomas Fire, Mid December Ventura and Santa Barbra counties. This firing operation was during a sustained Santa Ana event with a slope driven fire pushing hard uphill. I spent 14 days as a Divs on several different divisions. House and infrastructure that had defensible space fared much better. #fuelsreduction #defensiblespace #rkcontractors

This would seem to be our new normal and it requires innovative solutions to identify, track and contain these life-threatening events. As a former utility CEO, I worry that folks don't generally understand the cost of implementing wildfire mitigation plans across the West. Although substantial and rate-impacting, we cannot afford to not do so. And of course, this is but one of the major issues that electric utilities and their customers, are dealing with from a reliability and affordability perspective.

DTE is doing tree-trimming along back-of-yard powerlines in my neighborhood. My estimation is that a crew of three is spending about 3 hours in every single yard along the lines. I propose that utility companies and municipal governments should work together with the State to develop long-term plans to move utilities to underground conduits within the road ROW, where maintenance costs will be much lower and storm damage risk will be minimal. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gTUT2pHD

3 homes in the U.S. were obliterated last year from a result of underground utility strikes. All 3 were gas explosions. Two cats died in these explosions, but by some miracle no people were killed. However, one adult and a child suffered critical injuries, and their lives may never be the same again. 1. Susquehanna, Pennsylvania 2. Woodstock, Illinois 3. Wappingers Falls, New York I'm sure the people of those cities won't ever think the same way about underground utility construction again, especially next time it comes to town. From the families who lived next door, the school across the street (miraculously was on holiday that day), to the people who barely survived- Everyone will be on alert for the rest of their lives. No matter who was at fault, these things are always preventable, and we believe more men and women working in the underground utility construction industry need to understand what is at risk if they don't already. Before it's too late. Join our sponsors and help spread damage prevention awareness so we can all go home to our families safe and sound! Early Bird discount for Digging Dangers 35 starts now, contact for more info. Purchase 2024 video at link below Thank you 2024 sponsors: Georgia 811, Tennessee 811, JULIE, Inc. (Illinois One-Call System), Virginia 811 (Virginia Utility Protection Service, Inc), Mississippi 811, Inc., One-Call Of Wyoming, Inc., Blue Stakes of Utah 811, Pennsylvania One Call System, Inc., Louisiana 811, Pipeline Association for Public Awareness, South Carolina 811, NUCA of Las Vegas, SeeScan, Miller Pipeline, Kentucky 811, Peoples Gas, One Call Concepts, Inc., HBK Engineering, LLC, #811Chicago, #NM811, #Ohio811 https://lnkd.in/e_5jB-ia

In times of crisis, our Preferred Expert Services network shines, and we're looking for talented engineers to join our ranks. When disaster strikes, we're able to quickly deploy experienced engineers. For example: Hurricane Ian left Sanibel Island in a dire state with no access, no electricity, and minimal resources. One carrier faced a flood of claims, and that's where our network stepped in. Our internal team meticulously mapped the claims, organized logistics, and gathered a team of engineers from our network. We even sourced a boat to get them to the island Engineers were assigned specific areas, and they went door-to-door, expertly handling assignments. Hancock managed all logistics and safety, ensuring a seamless process. This real-world example showcases how our full-circle support ensures efficient expert services, from start to finish. Join Hancock's Preferred Expert Services Team and be part of something that truly matters: https://lnkd.in/gmrX8XnS #HancockHiring #EngineeringForGood #ImpactfulCareers #CareerWithPurpose

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS (August 19, 2024) – The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (“WAPA” or the “Authority”) urges the public and electricians not to touch or tamper with any WAPA infrastructure. Unauthorized contact with power lines, streetlights, transformers, and other equipment can cause serious harm to both the system and our customers. As progress from our line crews remains steady, customers may experience fluctuations in power to allow the teams to safely work on isolated/pocket outages in their area. On St. Thomas, portions of Feeder 6A, 7A, 6B, 8B, 9C, and 7C were restored, in addition to pocket outages across the island. On St. John, the line crew continue to repair power lines and clear vegetation to restore power to customers along North Shore, Chocolate Hole, and Fish Bay. On St. Croix, several isolated outages on the following feeders were restored: 2A, 3A, 4A, 7B, 9B, and 10B. In the St. Thomas/St. John district, due to reduced generation capacity caused by the loss of Wärtsilä 3, the following feeders experienced an outage for approximately 3 ½ hours that has since been restored: 7C, 9C and 8A. As the nature and inconvenience of the restoration process following a storm, we are asking for the patience and understanding from our customers who continue to remain without power and for the unexpected temporary outages. On St. Croix, customers on Feeder 9B also experienced loss of power at about 12:30 p.m. but was restored successfully by the line crews within 30 minutes. Restoration efforts remain dynamic as our team strives for full power restoration despite the challenges. We sincerely thank the community for their resilience during this time. ### DOWNLOAD PDF HERE: https://buff.ly/3YQxVQD #VIWAPA #WAPA #TropicalStormErnesto

Excited to share how the Frontline Wildfire Defense System can adapt to any property's infrastructure, offering flexible and diverse capabilities for structure protection. As an installer, I find it fascinating how this system efficiently delivers water and fire retardant to safeguard buildings. The system remains operational even during power outages, thanks to backup generators, solar panels, and batteries commonly found in homes. Utilizing various water storage options like tanks, pools, and cisterns, along with municipal resources, this system ensures preparedness well in advance of approaching wildfires. #WildfireDefense #PropertyProtection #FireSafety 🌲🔥

The City of Urbandale has initiated a response to the significant weather event that impacted the southeastern portion of the city earlier today. Initial surveys have revealed several streets blocked by downed power lines and trees. City crews are actively working to clear debris and reopen these blocked streets. Community members are urged to avoid the southeast portion of Urbandale to allow crews to work efficiently and safely. Important Information for Residents: Avoid Downed Power Lines: Please stay away from downed power lines. For updates on power restoration, contact MidAmerican Energy directly. They are working diligently to restore electricity as quickly as possible. Visit their Outage Watch website: https://lnkd.in/gAi_nGQ8 Natural Gas Safety: If you smell natural gas, evacuate the structure immediately and call 9-1-1. Debris Collection: Information regarding curbside collection of storm-related debris will be shared in a future update. Please keep vegetative debris and construction debris separated at the curb for easier collection. We appreciate your patience and cooperation during this time. More information will be posted as it becomes available. For updates, visit www.urbandale.org/weather.

More than 5 million people are without power across Texas. In storms like #Beryl, our first priority as always is safety – the safety of our team and their families, the safety of our customers, and the safety of our community. Before #HurricaneBeryl even made landfall in Houston, some area businesses took proactive steps to keep their power on. With Enchanted Rock, these businesses transitioned to natural gas generator power, ensuring they would stay operational during and after the storm. With natural gas generators, which don't need refueling like diesel generators, our customers will continue to serve their communities no matter how long it takes to restore power from the grid. Since this morning, we’ve covered more than 150 outages, and continue to monitor evolving conditions and keep the power on as our teams, customers and communities begin to focus on recovery. #safety #houston #texas #txwx #poweroutage #storm

Limited capabilities for post-storm cleanup: Lack of specialized equipment and expertise in private ownership can lead to slower storm cleanup and power restoration. Potential higher long-term costs: Initial savings with private ownership may be offset by ongoing maintenance and repair expenses, as well as the high cost of acquiring specialized equipment for occasional use. Responsibility for maintenance and repairs: Owners must manage and finance repairs for their equipment, which can be complex, costly, and necessitate expertise that owners might lack. Safety risks and repair responsibilities: Managing private utility lines means assuming responsibility for safety protocols and repair costs, which can pose risks and financial burdens. Check out our website https://www.awutilities.ca for more details! #PostStormCleanup #PowerRestoration #PrivateEquipment #UtilityPlant #StormRecovery #EfficiencyMatters #TrainedProfessionals #CostEffectiveSolutions #CustomerOwnedEquipment #UtilityOwnedPlant #PowerOutage #StormManagement