PG&E sets up emergency centers to help fight California wildfires

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has set up several emergency operations centers to help emergency workers fight the Carr wildfires burning in Northern California.

The massive fire has burned over 100,000 acres in Shasta County, claiming the lives of six people so far. Approximately seven people are missing. The Carr Fire is so big and so hot that it is creating a weather system, experts said. The heat from the flames is causing cloud formations that are leading to lightning and rain storms in some instances.

PG&E — one of the largest natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States with more than 16 million customers in Northern California — activated its Emergency Operations Center in San Francisco, a Gas Emergency Center in San Ramon, as well as a local support center near the wildfire. Also, PG&E continues to monitor potential fire threats and weather conditions in its Wildfire Safety Operations Center, which is fully staffed.

Through these operation centers, the company is supporting first responders and local agencies and monitoring its gas and electric infrastructure. PG&E has added more than 50 new weather stations – with a total of around 200 planned in 2018 – to improved awareness of fire danger conditions and better predict where a wildfire could occur.

At the request of firefighters, PG&E has turned off power to some customers located near the City of Redding, which is hard hit by the Carr Fire. The shut off is an emergency measure to support safety and firefighting efforts. At present, PG&E has turned off gas service for about 500 customers with this number expected to grow.

PG&E is asking customers to update their contact info at www.pge.com/mywildfirealerts so they can be reached if necessary. The company reminds customers to call 911 or PG&E at 1-800-743-5000 to report a downed power line or if they smell gas.