Would metal power poles, instead of wooden ones, prevented the Witch Creek Fire. As part of SDG&E's new plan to prevent future fires, metal poles are being installed throughout parts of the county. County leaders said they agree with fire prevention projects like metal poles, but don't agree with a controversial plan to shut off power during a fire.
SDG&E's fire prevention plans include replacing more than 700 wooden poles with metal ones in places like Valley Center, Escondido, and parts of East County. It also includes brush maintenance, and more inspections of power lines. "For the past 8 months or so, we've also been trying to get people prepared about emergency preparedness," said Stephanie Donovan, spokesperson for San Diego Gas and Electric.
Donovan said there are plans to replace about 200 more poles throughout the county. Experts said metal poles would prevent fires from creeping up the pole, and since metal is more sturdier than wood, it would keep the power lines in place when winds blow. Ratepayers are the ones footing the bill for the replacement, but the County and the utility agree metal poles will keep people safer. "What's the cost of another fire, caused by a power line... " said County Supervisor, Dianne Jacob.
What they're not agreeing on is a controversial power-shut off plan. It calls for the utility to shut off power, hours before a fire is projected to hit an area. The utility said it would prevent fires, while the county disagrees saying it would put more lives in danger. "When after you put all these things in place, the only thing you can be sure your power lines don't cause a fire, is to just turn off the electricity," said Donovan. "We need any available resource and some of those resources depend on energy, on electricity, in order to respond to a fire," said Jacob.
The county voted 4-0 to ask the California Public Utilites Commission to reject the power shut-off plan. However, the SDG&E said that cutting off power would be a last resort.
SDG&E's fire prevention plans include replacing more than 700 wooden poles with metal ones in places like Valley Center, Escondido, and parts of East County. It also includes brush maintenance, and more inspections of power lines. "For the past 8 months or so, we've also been trying to get people prepared about emergency preparedness," said Stephanie Donovan, spokesperson for San Diego Gas and Electric.
Donovan said there are plans to replace about 200 more poles throughout the county. Experts said metal poles would prevent fires from creeping up the pole, and since metal is more sturdier than wood, it would keep the power lines in place when winds blow. Ratepayers are the ones footing the bill for the replacement, but the County and the utility agree metal poles will keep people safer. "What's the cost of another fire, caused by a power line... " said County Supervisor, Dianne Jacob.
What they're not agreeing on is a controversial power-shut off plan. It calls for the utility to shut off power, hours before a fire is projected to hit an area. The utility said it would prevent fires, while the county disagrees saying it would put more lives in danger. "When after you put all these things in place, the only thing you can be sure your power lines don't cause a fire, is to just turn off the electricity," said Donovan. "We need any available resource and some of those resources depend on energy, on electricity, in order to respond to a fire," said Jacob.
The county voted 4-0 to ask the California Public Utilites Commission to reject the power shut-off plan. However, the SDG&E said that cutting off power would be a last resort.
