Header
APS is working year-round and using new technology to help prevent, reduce and respond to wildfires
At Arizona Public Service (APS), our dedicated team of fire mitigation professionals work all year long to identify technology and processes that address the challenges of Arizona’s extreme weather and wildfires. At the heart of our comprehensive wildfire mitigation program is a dedicated team of fire mitigation specialists with experience working as wildland firefighters; degreed foresters and certified arborists; and meteorologists and data scientists who help track extreme weather risks.
“We’ve developed industry-leading best practices over the past decade to help safeguard the communities we serve and our infrastructure from Arizona’s changing climate,” said Scott Bordenkircher, APS Forestry and Fire Mitigation Director. “As a hometown energy provider, we have a responsibility to do what we can to help prevent wildfires, and we are thoughtfully investing in resources to support greater protection for the communities we serve.”
We care deeply about providing our customers with reliable and affordable power. Many of our team members live and work in the very communities where they take great care to maintain and safely operate our energy grid. Our work involves thorough inspections, preventative upgrades, regular clearance of dry brush and vegetation, and strong partnerships with local firefighters in communities like Prescott, Sedona, Flagstaff, Payson, Show Low, Globe and more.
Building on years of experience and partnerships with new technology
We’ve installed over 100 weather stations, which are used by a team of meteorologists to forecast and track local conditions in real time. An additional 82 high-definition cameras are used to monitor wildfires and their potential impact on power lines and equipment.
We’re also using new artificial intelligence (AI) fire-sensing cameras to watch for wildfires 24/7 in high-risk areas. These cameras alert APS experts and fire dispatch centers when they detect smoke or heat.
"The new AI cameras act as powerful extra sets of eyes. When minutes matter, early fire detection provides real-time information so firefighters can respond faster and we can make critical operational decisions about our energy grid to help keep communities safe,” explained Bordenkircher.
We plan to continue adding these technologies to help monitor wildfire conditions.
More ways we work year-round to prevent, reduce and respond to wildfires
- Clearing potentially hazardous vegetation, like trees, weeds, brush and branches around tens of thousands of equipment poles and substations each year.
- Conducting robust inspections and maintenance of 18,000 miles of power lines each year and using innovative technology like infrared scans and drones to help identify and troubleshoot potential problems.
- Strengthening power poles in high-fire-risk areas with fire mesh to guard from damage, installing steel poles where possible, and upgrading system devices with new technologies that help reduce fire risk.
- During high-fire-risk conditions, disabling settings that automatically re-energize power lines, performing in-person inspections before re-–energizing lines, and adding safety protocols such as rescheduling planned field work when a Red Flag Warning is in effect.
- Implementing a Public Safety Power Shutoff program to be used only in severe fire conditions.
Steps you can take to be prepared
- Clear overgrown grass, brush, trash and debris from around your property.
- Update your contact information on aps.com to ensure you receive important alerts and sign up for your county’s emergency alert system.
- Make a plan and build an emergency supply kit that includes items such as non-perishable food, water, prescription medication, flashlights, batteries, portable phone charger and list of emergency contacts.
Learn more about our wildfire mitigation efforts at aps.com/wildfires.
Related stories
Stay up to date with our social channels
