EnergyNewswatch

Best Practices for Utility Wildfire Mitigation Planning

December 12-13, 2023 | Live Streaming Online

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The severity of escalating wildfire threats has reached a critical threshold, primarily due to the prolonged duration of wildfire seasons and the increasing size of fires. In response, states are enacting new requirements for utilities to submit Wildfire Mitigation Plans (WMPs) or Natural Disaster Protection Plans. These initiatives are designed to improve utility wildfire safety by focusing on the mitigation of ignition risks arising from their own infrastructure. The development of wildfire mitigation strategies demands collaboration with a diverse range of stakeholders. It’s crucial to consider wildfire risk in specific communities, with an emphasis on long-term resilience. Effective use of data is imperative in understanding and proactively strategizing for potential risks.  

EUCI’s Best Practices for Utility Wildfire Mitigation Planning course will address the essential processes, tools, and capabilities required for utility-driven mitigation efforts. Register now to gain systematic long range risk reduction strategies for utilities and the communities that they serve.

Learning Outcomes

  • Review best practices on how to prepare wildfire mitigation plans
  • Identify how to tailor wildfire mitigation plans to address specific services areas and risks
  • Discuss the importance of communication between stakeholders in developing wildfire mitigation plans
  • Assess trends in vegetation mitigation strategies
  • Examine regulatory considerations by state
  • Review wildfire mitigation methodologies
  • Assess the value of data in developing mitigation strategies
  • Identify key concerns in power safety shut-off policies
  • Examine a variety of engineering strategies in mitigation efforts
  • Develop an understanding of the importance of situational awareness in creating a wildfire mitigation plan

Agenda

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2023

9:00 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. Pacific Time

9:00 – 9:30 a.m. :: Introduction

  • Overview
  • Objectives

9:30 – 10:00 a.m. :: Regulatory Landscape

Navigating utility wildfire mitigation planning involves achieving tangible outcomes. This session explores evolving state regulations and utility responses. Insights from various states will be discussed:

  • California
  • Nevada
  • Oregon
  • Washington
  • Other

10:00 – 10:15 a.m. :: Morning Break

10:15 – 11:30 a.m. :: Evaluating Wildfire Risk

Understanding fire risk is the cornerstone of mitigation planning. This segment covers comprehensive risk assessment and the integration of data-driven strategies.

  • Methodologies
  • Modeling
  • Data Assessment
  • Data Sources
  • Data Considerations
  • Addressing Limitations

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. :: Lunch Break

12:30 – 2:00 p.m. :: Situational Awareness

The role of Situational awareness (SA) spans wildfire phases: preparedness, detection, response, suppression, mop-up, and reclamation. This session will examine SA in wildfire response planning.

  • Strategies from California’s Investor-Owned Utilities
  • Fire Potential Index (FPI)
    • Public Information
  • Red Flag Indicators
  • Evaluating Large Fire Potential
  • Defensibility
  • Agency Utilization

2:00 – 2:15 p.m. :: Afternoon Break

2:15 – 3:45 p.m. :: Vegetation Management

Sustainable utility vegetation management programs are typically focused on managing wildfire ignition, asset protection and cost. This session highlights adaptive approaches, technologies and solutions for vegetation management.

  • Leading Trends
  • Use of Remotely Sensed Data
  • Breaking Down Utility Departmental Barriers

3:45 – 4:15 p.m. :: Performance Metrics and Monitoring

 

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2023

9:00 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. Pacific Time

9:00 – 10:15 a.m. :: Mitigation Strategies

Wildfire prevention practices reduce or eliminate fire risk by removing or reducing heat sources, modifying fuels and reducing the likelihood of a heat source coming in contact with ignitable fuels. This session explores how mitigation strategies are integrated into WMPs.

  • Best Field Practices
  • Responses to Escalating Fire Weather Conditions
    • Optimal System Operations
    • Engineering Solutions

10:15 – 11:30 a.m. :: Public Safety Power Shutoff

Investor-owned utilities have the authority to enact public safety power shut offs to mitigate wildfire risks. This session will detail the factors to consider when adding PSPS procedures to a utility wildfire mitigation plan.

  • Timeline Considerations
  • Precautionary Measures
  • Communication Strategies Before, During, and After

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. :: Fire Response Strategies

  • Agency Collaboration & Response
  • Formulating Effective Agency Relationships
  • Building a Fire Classification System
  • Internal Fire Intelligence Communication

Instructor

Mark Regan, Fire Chief & Fire Mitigation Specialist, NV Energy

Prior to joining NV Energy, Regan spent seven years as Fire Marshal and Division Chief for the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, and before that worked in multiple roles for the Sierra Fire Protection District. He has served as incident commander for numerous wildland fire emergencies and has been the lead investigator for multiple wildland fires. He also brings an extensive background in public safety education and outreach, having led 35 evacuation drills, including the largest full-scale drill in the state and the first bi-state evacuation drill with California and served as a public information officer.

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