Wildfire Safety

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CPI Wildfire Risk Mitigation

During Oregon’s wildfire season, CPI exercises an abundance of caution to ensure members, and our communities stay safe.

Our Operational Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan focuses on three main components; vegetation management, system coordination and system hardening. The plan uses a systematic approach to implement immediate, short and long term actions and documents these activities for future reference. Click here for a copy of CPI’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan.

Outages During Wildfire Season

During wildfire season, CPI makes changes to protective settings on our reclosers. As a result, members may experience more frequent and longer-lasting power outages. These changes are necessary to enhance safety and reduce the risk of ignitions from electrical equipment.

What are reclosers? Reclosers are devices on our power lines that automatically shut off the power when they detect a fault, such as a tree branch touching a line. They then attempt to restore power after a brief pause. This process helps to minimize the duration of outages and maintain reliable service.

What changes are made during wildfire season? To mitigate this risk, during wildfire season CPI adjusts the settings on our reclosers to be more sensitive. This means that they will shut off power more quickly and will not attempt to restore it automatically. Under this setting power will not be restored until the lines have been visually inspected.

What does this mean for you? As a result of these changes, during wildfire season you may experience more frequent and longer-lasting power outages. While we understand that this can be inconvenient, the safety of our members and our communities is our top priority.

Public Safety Power Shutoff

When conditions warrant, CPI may choose to proactively de-energize power lines during extreme weather events. This is known as a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS). For more information please see our Public Safety Power Shutoff page.

Personal Preparation

Below are helpful links and resources to assist in your personal preparedness.

  • Update your contact information with CPI. You can do this either through your SmartHub account or by giving us a call at 800-872-9036.
  • Sign up to receive for emergency alerts from your county’s local emergency management department.
  • Download the Watch Duty fire app for access to real-time fire maps and alerts.
  • Create a defense perimeter around your property by clearing flammable trees and plants away from your house and outbuildings.
  • Establish an emergency plan. Make sure to include for medical needs such as life support equipment. You can invest in a backup generator to help supply these needs in the case of an extended outage.
  • Familiarize yourself with the the three levels of evacuation orders (READY/SET/GO), and develop a plan in the event you need to evacuate.

Additional Preparedness Resources