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APS to Activate Public Safety Power Shutoff to Reduce Wildfire Risk
For safety due to extreme fire risk, APS will shut off power today at 9 a.m. to approximately 6,000 customers in limited, high fire-risk communities in the Flagstaff area and, due to forecasted worsening weather conditions, an additional 150 customers farther north in some locations in and around Grand Canyon National Park, excluding Grand Canyon Village, to help prevent electrical equipment from starting or contributing to a wildfire. Extreme winds, with gusts forecasted to reach nearly 60 miles per hour near critical electrical infrastructure, coupled with dry terrain and other factors pose elevated wildfire risk. APS meteorologists and fire mitigation specialists continue to closely monitor conditions and coordinate with local emergency management.
Since conditions have not improved, APS will begin the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) at approximately 9:00 a.m. today.
How long will the power be out and who is impacted?
APS has directly notified the limited and targeted group of about 6,000 APS customers impacted, who are located in eastern Flagstaff and some surrounding areas in the following communities:
- Doney Park
- Timberline
- Fernwood
- Mormon Lake
- Cosnino
- Sunset Crater
- Walnut Canyon
- Valle
- Some locations in and around Grand Canyon National Park, excluding Grand Canyon Village
Power is projected to be out for approximately 12-24 hours; however, weather conditions can change and affect outage times if damage is caused to APS power lines and equipment and repairs are necessary. The actual restoration time will be determined based on weather conditions. Location maps and other information for PSPS customers can be found at aps.com/psps.
How crews get power back on after a Public Safety Power Shutoff
1. Patrol lines and look for damage
Get eyes on lines via crew or drone;
determine what repairs are needed
2. Make the site safe for repairs
Redirect traffic;
secure job site
3. Make repairs
Remove damaged equipment; trim trees;
dig holes; install poles; string power lines; safety checks
4. Restore power
Notify customers;
clean up job site
What can I do to stay safe and informed?
- Monitor the APS Outage Map at aps.com/outages for updates on power restoration times. APS customers will also receive outage alerts via text, phone and email keeping them informed of when their power will be reconnected.
- Ensure your contact information with APS is up to date. Sign in to your aps.com account or call the APS Customer Care Center at (602) 371-7171 to update your email, text and phone numbers so APS can reach you in the event of an outage.
- Alert APS if you use life-supporting medical equipment that requires electricity, call 602-371-7171 or 800-253-9405 to register for our Medical Care program.
- Sign up for your county’s emergency alerts. If you live in an area affected by APS’s Public Safety Power Shutoff program, here are those links, by county:
- Coconino County: coconino.az.gov/ready
- Gila County: readygila.com
- Navajo County: navajocountyaz.gov/ready
- Pinal County: www.pinal.gov/pens
- Yavapai County: yavapaiready.gov
What should I do during a planned safety outage?
- The city of Flagstaff’s Murdoch Community Center (203 E Brannen Ave) will be open to residents impacted by the PSPS from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to get information, charge medical devices, phones or small electronics, refrigerate medicine, or grab a bottle of water.
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to keep food and perishable items cold. Ice distribution information will be available on the APS Outage Map. Residential customers affected by this PSPS outage can be reimbursed for the purchase of up to 40 pounds of bagged ice OR 20 pounds of dry ice to help preserve food. The APS Outage Map indicates where to send receipts. Unplug all unnecessary equipment and appliances to prevent electrical spikes. Wait at least five minutes after the power returns to turn on major appliances and equipment. If you see a downed line, stay at least 100 feet away, call 911 and then call APS (800-253-9405).
- Unplug all unnecessary equipment and appliances to prevent electrical spikes. Wait at least five minutes after the power returns to turn on major appliances and equipment.
- If you see a downed line, stay at least 100 feet away, call 911 and then call APS (800-253-9405).
Why is APS proactively shutting off power?
APS’s fire mitigation experts and meteorologists assessed weather conditions in the impacted areas and determined the need to proactively shut off power to help prevent wildfires in the areas of highest risk. Primary factors for concern are forecasted wind gusts nearing 60 miles per hour. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for northeastern Arizona.
How do planned safety outages protect Arizona?
PSPS is a tool in APS’s robust wildfire mitigation toolbox that will be utilized in extreme weather to prevent electrical equipment from starting or contributing to a wildfire. The length of a shutoff will depend on extreme weather behavior and the extent of damage to electrical lines and equipment, if any. APS will do everything it can to minimize disruptions to customers while prioritizing safety.
APS meteorologists and fire mitigation experts perform fire modeling and track wind speeds, humidity, lightning and other weather patterns to determine when a safety outage is necessary. For example, if wind speeds are high during hot and dry temperatures, debris blown by the wind can strike electrical equipment and cause a wildfire. By shutting off power temporarily, APS can help protect threatened communities and maintain a strong energy grid that can serve customers reliably once it is safe to reconnect power.
What else does APS do to help prevent wildfires?
APS works year-round to reduce wildfire risk. These efforts include inspecting more than 38,000 miles of powerlines, clearing hazardous and overgrown brush from around electrical equipment, investing in the latest fire mitigation technology and working closely with first responders and fire officials.