There is no doubt that in the wake of the recent California wildfires, you will find Presco roll flagging vastly distributed amongst the scorched tree lines. Wildfires continue to be a serious and unfortunate situation as sources indicate that, as of May 2018, there have been at least 4 new fire outbreaks nearing Nevada, 3 of which were preventable as they were due to inadequate clearance of tree branches near a prominent power company’s power lines. According to local news stations, reports indicate, “In one case, fire officials said, PG&E failed to remove a tree near a power line. In the other, agency investigators said the utility did not provide proper clearance between trees and power lines. Although no fatalities have been reported, over 100 acres have been destroyed, along with dozens of structures and wildlife habitats, all of which could have been avoided if proper vegetation management duties had been properly followed.

As a community, there are many ways we can perform our due diligence to ensure that not only local vegetation management is being done correctly, but also being aware of the vegetation hazards around us.

  1. Investor-owned electric utilities companies are responsible for maintaining the distance between electric power lines and all vegetation, and it is typical for them to maintain a 3 to 25-foot safety zone between the highest point the vegetation will potentially grow and the lowest point the power line will safe under extreme conditions.
  2. If you happen to notice that there is encroaching vegetation near your powerlines, and they are not on your property, immediately call your local electric company to inform them of the potential hazard.
  3. Do NOT attempt to trim vegetation around a power line, this should only be conducted by professionals. As stated in the Occupational Safety and Health Authority (OSHA) standards and ANSI Z133, an unqualified person should not work within 10 feet of overhead power lines with voltages below 50,000 volts. The distance increases with voltage for all voltages equal to or higher than 50,000 volts.
  4. If a tree is marked with a colored plastic tape, such as Presco’s vibrantly colored roll flagging, it is likely due to the tree being of a hazardous nature, and it is marked for removal…STAY AWAY.
  5. Keep your children safe by building tree houses away from any power lines.
  6. Keep a clearing of at least 100 feet around your house to reduce potential fire hazards.

For more detailed guidance on how you can protect yourself and others from the risk of fire hazards, check out FEMA’s Homeowners Checklist here.

Presco is here to remind you that safety is key, and we urge you to take a second look around your yard and make sure that your home isn’t vulnerable to any hazardous conditions.