Portland General Electric’s Post

Did you know that #wildfires can be so intense that their heat can cause a thunderstorm? Well, one of the byproducts of an intense forest fire is the production of pyrocumulonimbus clouds, or storm clouds produced from fires. In essence, the wildfire "generated it's own weather". While this is an amazing phenomena, fires create lots of contaminants, most of which, our eyes cannot see. Sadly, they affect our health and our buildings should have systems that can detect the contaminants at the very least and ideally, get rid of them. Siemens has this technology. Let's connect and see what would be the best solutions for your building. https://lnkd.in/eH5vi4U5 Siemens CTV News #BCWildfires #manningpark #thunderstorm

May is #WildfireAwarenessMonth in many western states and communities, and we'll soon enter the season when the threat is greatest to communities and infrastructure. APPA has curated a collection of resources to assist #utilities in crafting their #wildfire mitigation plans. Wildfire mitigation planning is crucial for #PublicPower utilities to ensure the resilience and reliability of electricity supply, reduce risks and associated costs, enhance public safety, and comply with regulatory standards. Learn more: https://ow.ly/TAYp50RSSXK

We always improve our Fire Spread simulation feature and compare its performance with actual fire behavior after the event. The recent Cow Valley Fire in Oregon exceeded 130,000 acres (over 52,000 hectares) of land burned. While the fire was still expanding, our Wildfire Solution experts ran a 24-hour Fire Spread simulation, which considered factors like weather, wind speed, and air moisture content to predict how quickly it would spread and in what direction. This led us to believe it would move southeast fairly rapidly across Highway 26, growing up to three times its size in that 24-hour period. Sure enough, it grew that size in the exact direction and rate as predicted. Tools like these are a huge help to first responders and land managers alike, allowing them to detect and predict fires at any place on Earth. Our ability to predict a fire’s next move could save land, lives, and property.  The Cow Valley Fire is still active today but is showing signs of slowing thanks to their amazing suppression of the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s fast response Red Team and the local wildland firefighters alike. #Wildfire #CowValleyFire #WildfireManagement #EarthOberservation

We can help protect your grid from ghostly scenes like these...

Green Grid Inc. (GGI) recently showcased cutting-edge #wildfire detection technology at #EmberStomp2024, an event hosted by Fire Safe Marin to promote #wildfirepreparedness. During a live fire demonstration, we introduced the community to our #AI-powered iSIU® system, which offers 24/7 #realtimemonitoring to detect and prevent wildfires before they escalate. Attendees saw firsthand how our advanced system detects risks in real-time, providing immediate alerts to help prevent disasters. Our participation reflects our ongoing commitment to #partnering with local #communities, businesses, and #firedepartments to foster wildfire preparedness. GGI's AI-driven #technology, enhanced by advanced analytics, #remotesensing and GIS data, enables us to identify high-risk areas and develop customized prevention strategies, ensuring that #wildfiremitigation is proactive and effective. GGI is at the forefront of wildfire prevention, offering scalable and cost-effective solutions accessible to communities of all sizes. With climate change driving an increase in wildfire risk, we’re proud to provide hope and #innovative solutions to those who are most vulnerable. For more information about our wildfire prevention technology, contact customer.success@greengridinc.com or connect with us here. #AI #WildfirePrevention #TechnologyForGood #Resilience #climatetech #CommunityCollaboration https://lnkd.in/gkz8-3yX

The 2020 California fire season tallied over 8,000 wildfires, scorching 4.1 million acres, destroying over 10,000 structures, and resulting in 31 fatalities. The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) tasked the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) with streamlining the safe removal of wildfire debris. Tidal Basin and Michael Baker International joined together to lead the cleanup effort for the Inland Branch Emergency Cleanup Response, an area that encompassed 40 separate wildfire incidents. The large-scale, multi-faceted recovery process included debris removal and monitoring as well as GIS mapping services. Learn how Tidal Basin’s debris management expertise can benefit your organization: https://zurl.co/CYLp #DisasterRecovery #EmergencyResponse #CrisisManagement

FOREST MANAGEMENT VS WILDFIRE SUPPRESION - The answer may suprize you, in that both are needed. In fact one does not effectively work without the other. Forest Mangement: The key to our long term success has one constraint, its time to completion and resource scale. At a (generous) forest management rate of 10 million acres a year, divided into 800 million acres of US forest lands = 80 years. So let's pick up the pace while we also upscale our existing Wlidfire containment forces, so there are still forests left to manage before task completion. Wildfire Suppression: Both Ground and Arial first responders are greatly outnumbered by the sheer volume of simultaneous Wildfires across the country. Expanding their fire suppression resources will enhance their ability to extinguish wildfires in their infancy, which is the most efficient response. Greater numbers of first responders and aerial resources are needed to prevent the nation's forests from bleeding out; while also choking us out in the interim. I conclusion, BOTH is Best. #Wildfires #firefighting #forestmanagement #fire #forest

One of the standout tools in our wildfire mitigation arsenal is the Quick Reaction Force (QRF). These giant helitankers can drop thousands of gallons of water or fire retardant during the day and, importantly, at night. The unique ability to operate when it’s dark is a huge advantage and one of the reasons why Southern California Edison (SCE) supports the QRF along with the Ventura County Fire Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department and Orange County Fire Authority.     Installing 5,900 miles of insulated wires, clearing out dry and dead vegetation, and other efforts combined with the QRF has cut the risk of our equipment sparking a catastrophic wildfire by 85% to over 90% compared to before 2018. Thank you to our crews at SCE and our fire agency partners for protecting our communities while keeping the power grid resilient and reliable. Collaboration and teamwork are making a positive difference and keeping our communities safe.     #innovation #climatechange #infrastructure #safety 

This article highlights the critical need for better provincial regulations and municipal bylaws to support FireSmart initiatives, especially when it comes to public safety. The issue of one-way roads in developments is a prime example—these designs can hinder firefighting efforts and evacuations, as seen in West Kelowna. By enforcing land-use planning that includes multiple egress routes, fire-resistant landscaping, and building materials, communities can drastically reduce wildfire risks. It's essential that governments prioritize public safety by making FireSmart principles a standard part of urban planning and development policy. Let’s be leaders in tomorrows public safety initiatives.

Since publishing v1 of the Greater Hobart Bushfire Exposure Index (https://bit.ly/3Y4CLtu), we have made significant advancements in our project to "Anticipate and Monitor the Impact of Bushfires in Greater Hobart." This comprehensive initiative, part of the "Preparing Australian Communities - Local Stream," is funded by the National Emergency Management Agency and focuses on the vulnerable areas of GLENORCHY CITY COUNCIL, City of Hobart and Kingborough Council. Our ongoing work includes improvements to both the severity and exposure indices, incorporating sophisticated semi-automated tools and a dedicated web platform. As we work towards v2 of the Bushfire Exposure Index, our goal remains clear: to fortify the long-term preparedness of local governments and residents, fostering a culture of resilience and proactive response in the face of increasing fire dangers. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to refine our tools to protect Greater Hobart. #Wildfire #Bushfire #ClimateTech #EmergencyManagement