Annual Wildfire Mitigation Update
The new reality of living in the Northwest means that residents have grown accustomed to five seasons per year: fall, winter, spring, summer and fire season. This unwelcome fifth season challenges western Montana, which is home to some of the most fire-prone, fuel-dense landscapes in the United States. As wildfire size, frequency, and severity continue to rise, Missoula Electric Cooperative (MEC) remains committed to wildfire mitigation.
In 2020, MEC developed a comprehensive Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP) to analyze and address the potential risk factors related to utility sparked wildfire. This plan, the first of its kind in Montana, has proven essential to our operations. The WMP details the wildfire mitigation strategies, programs, technologies and operational practices implemented to reduce the potential for system ignitions, improve system reliability, and promote the safety of the communities we serve. Since the WMP’s inception, I have provided an annual status update highlighting the Co-op’s accomplishments, priorities, strategies and goals for the year ahead.
Vegetation Management
Proactive vegetation management is a keystone of MEC’s wildfire mitigation strategy. In 2023, MEC’s Rights-of-Way (ROW) crews, supported by contract crews, focused on inspecting and clearing high-priority areas identified on WMP maps. These efforts are particularly important in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) zones, where dense vegetation meets developed areas, increasing the overall risk should a fire ignite. By maintaining a rigorous ROW and safety inspection schedule, MEC aims for a full-system inspection every two years, identifying and mitigating potential hazards before they become significant issues.
Once annual inspections are complete, a priority scale helps us to identify and mitigate the highest risks first. From a vegetation management perspective, areas identified as Priority 1 are most critical and must be cleared in advance of wildfire season in the year of inspection. Areas labeled as Priority 2 are then scheduled for completion by May 31 in the year following inspection. Finally, Priority 3 is the lowest tier identified and this work is addressed until a new inspection cycle starts the process again.
For the 2024 inspection year, District 5 (including Seeley Lake, Condon, Salmon Prairie, Holland Lake, Lindbergh Lake, Lake Alva and Lake Inez) and District 6 (including Gold Creek, Johnsrud, Bear Creek, Potomac, Greenough, Paws Up Ranch, Double Arrow, Placid Lake, Clearwater Junction, Woodworth, Coopers Lake, Ovando, Kleinschmidt Flats, Helmville, Nevada Lake, and the Nevada Creek drainage) were all inspected by May 31, and all Priority 1 areas have been cleared. Now that this work is complete, our Seeley Lake ROW crew has moved on to service requests called in by members and Priority 2’s in Districts 5 and 6. This year’s inspections yielded an alarming number of dead and dying trees outside the right of way, particularly in the Double Arrow development in Seeley Lake. These trees must be addressed in the coming months, and members owning property in this area will be notified regarding our plan of work. To round out the year, the Missoula ROW crew will focus on completing Priority 3 work found in our other districts (Districts 1-4 and 7) during the 2023 inspection cycle and addressing any service requests initiated by our members or employees.
Upgrades and Advancements
MEC is committed to upgrading its infrastructure to reduce wildfire risks further, which includes replacing outdated equipment with fire-resistant materials and installing advanced protective devices. MEC is currently in the negotiation stage of a federal grant for the installation of automated electronic breakers, which are highly sensitive and can be quickly adjusted to prevent arcing, thereby reducing fire risks. Additionally, MEC has employed drones for more efficient inspections. With infrared cameras, drones can detect “hot spots” and weak electrical connections early, even in hard-to-access areas. This technology enhances the effectiveness of inspection work, particularly in our substations and remote regions of the system.
Proactive Operations
MEC’s Line and ROW Crews recognize their potential impact and take proactive safety measures during wildfire season. As outlined in the WMP, these operational measures help the Co-op establish a baseline for how we accomplish daily tasks while reducing our impact. Some operational modifications include adding water tanks and pumps on trucks, using equipment like shovels, Pulaski’s, and battery-powered chainsaws, and relying on the Daily Situational Analysis Tool (DSAT). The DSAT was introduced in 2022 and is a vital tool that gives us a five-day predictive weather forecast, which allows us to modify operations and reprioritize jobs, especially during “red flag” events. We have also developed an “Escalating Conditions Matrix” tool to guide our operations as fire restriction stages intensify.
As fire season approaches, it is important to remember that we may modify equipment settings on portions of our system if fire conditions necessitate a change. Under normal operating conditions, lights often blink before power is interrupted. These momentary blinks improve reliability as equipment on the line attempts to clear the fault to avoid a prolonged outage. However, the attempt can be a source of elevated fire risk under the right conditions. With our modified fire settings, power will be interrupted the instant a problem is detected on the line. These settings significantly reduce the risk of a powerline-sparked wildfire. Please remember that if a fault occurs and power is interrupted during high-fire danger conditions, crew members must manually patrol 100% of the line before restoring power, which can lead to more frequent and prolonged outages among impacted areas.
Although the work performed in the field is significant, the mitigation work done inside the office is also key. Each year, the Wildfire Mitigation team, led by MEC’s Manager of Safety and Compliance and Tree Trimmer Lead, gathers to review the WMP and strategize for the year ahead. These leaders are responsible for implementing the plan and equipping our crews with the resources and training necessary for success. It is assumed that the work outlined in the plan will never be complete because we’re always looking for new opportunities, technologies or methods to mitigate our risk further. When the year ends, a progress report highlighting strategies, priorities and challenges is shared with the Co-op’s Board of Trustees.
Community Engagement and Education
Internal and external education programs inform employees and members about wildfire safety and prevention. This year’s educational wildfire campaign, “We Are,” debuted at the 2024 Annual Meeting and is centered around the many ways that we are prepared, committed, and proactive, and a valuable resource and partner in the community.
The Cooperative encourages residents to inspect their properties for trees or vegetation that could impact power lines and file a report if they identify tree growth, or dead, dying or leaning trees that may pose a risk to our lines. MEC’s ROW crew can assist with necessary trimming or removal to ensure certified professionals are managing hazardous vegetation.
On the other side of the coin, if our ROW crews identify hazardous trees or vegetation on your property, we ask that you be receptive to the work required to keep Cooperative employees, members, and wildlife safe. This work also increases the reliability of our system, which means fewer and shorter outages. Lastly, if you are in a fuel-dense area, create a defensible space around your property by trimming trees and removing debris. You can never be too prepared during wildfire season.
Strategic Partnerships and Ongoing Improvements
Collaboration with local, state, and federal agencies remains crucial to MEC’s wildfire mitigation strategy. Partnering with organizations such as the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) and the U.S. Forest Service, MEC leverages expertise and resources to implement comprehensive fire prevention and response strategies. The Cooperative has invested time and resources into various Federal grant opportunities, which, if awarded, would position us for impactful mitigation improvements in high-risk areas. In addition to the electronic recloser grant mentioned earlier, crews will begin burying powerlines in the Rock Creek and Swan Valley through grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Energy in the coming months and years. As news on these awards presents, I look forward to sharing more with our members.
The Cooperative’s service territory is vast and spans multiple national forests, which are fuel-dense and prone to wildfires. Paired with Montana summers, which are hot and dry, this places us in a high-risk category. Missoula Electric Cooperative’s ongoing dedication to wildfire mitigation underscores its commitment to community safety and service reliability. MEC continues strengthening its position during wildfire season through enhanced vegetation management, infrastructure upgrades, technological advancements, proactive operations, community engagement, and strategic partnerships.
