OCR Text |
Show Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, October 24-27, 2020 A-5 The Park Record County Seat COUNTY EDITOR: ALEXANDER CRAMER 649–9014 EXT. 15712 | Countynews@parkrecord.com Summit Park told to prepare Utility says it might cut power to prevent fire risk ALEXANDER CRAMER The Park Record Rocky Mountain Power asked Summit Park residents to prepare for a possible power outage as the utility announced in the middle of the week that it was considering preemptively cutting power amid exceptionally high wildfire risk. It was the first time Summit County residents have been included in such a watch under a policy the utility announced last summer. Officials expected fire conditions to warrant a potential shutoff through Sunday. The utility said it would endeavor to contact affected residents before turning off their power. A utility spokesperson, Spencer Hall, said low humidity, dry vegetation and windy conditions have increased fire risk. He said conditions likely would improve over the weekend when a wintry storm was expected to move in, though the timing of that expected relief kept shifting. For now, Hall asked Summit Park residents to update their contact information on file with the utility by logging into their account at rockymountainpower.net or calling 888-221-7070. He said the company hopes to provide 72 hours of notice to residents before any power shutoff occurs, but that in some cases that might not be possible. Hall said the utility will attempt to contact residents multiple times using emails, texts and calls. A press release estimates around 1,200 Summit Park residents could be affected. Crews have been dispatched to mon- itor conditions on the ground and to be able to respond quickly. In some cases they have shut off power to perform repair, but the utility has not ordered a preemptive shutoff. Hall noted the disruptive nature of a power outage and said it would only be used as a last resort. “This isn’t going to be a widespread outage,” he said, adding that it isn’t certain that the power will be cut. “(It would be) almost surgically isolated to areas that may be affected or may be at risk.” Rocky Mountain Power announced this policy at the end of last summer and this is the second time members of the public have been told to prepare to lose power. Last September, the utility briefly told Cedar City residents to prepare for a potential outage amid high winds, but the utility did not cut power in that instance. This fire watch extends to Wallsburg residents, as well, and the utility’s website indicates that in coming days it may include customers living on the north shore of the Jordanelle Reservoir, in Cedar City and in Little Cottonwood, as well. According to maps supplied by the utility, the Jordanelle area appears to include Hideout, residences at the mouth of Brown’s Canyon and across S.R. 248 including Park’s Edge. “We’ve never reached this level before,” Hall said, referring to several indicators that point to wildfire risk, including the extreme lack of moisture. The utility said in a press release that some areas it serves are at an increased risk of catastrophic wildfires. “As a safety precaution, electricity could be turned off in wildfire high risk areas during extreme weather events for public safety in an effort to prevent a catastrophic wildfire. The measure would only be used as a last resort to help ensure community safety,” the company said. Areas of Park City are also at elevated risk and may receive preemptive cuts to power during other incidents, but are not expected to be impacted at this time. Hall indicated that specific weather conditions influenced the decision to include Summit Park while excluding Park City in the affected area. Other considerations include how close buildings are to what is known as the wildland-urban interface, power lines and other utility infrastructure. The utility would turn off power to prevent sparks from its equipment igniting a fire. Hall said that high winds could force tree branches onto power lines, for example, and that in the current bone-dry conditions, one spark could prove disastrous. “Look at the fire in Provo Canyon,” Hall said, referencing a wildfire reportedly inadvertently started by an Orem police officer last week. “It started at a gun range with a little spark, traveled a great way.” The utility is also sending crews into the field, including in Summit Park, Hall said, to examine power lines, respond quickly to potential issues, clear brush and to report conditions on the ground. According to statistics from CalFire, power lines or electricity-related incidents have caused five of the 20 deadliest fires in California’s history and half of the most destructive. A California utility declared bankruptcy after investigators determined electrical power lines caused a devastating 2018 wildfire there. Rocky Mountain Power announced a $10 million wildfire mitigation strategy last summer Please see Power, A-6 Show your love for Park City & Summit County on our local giving day. Choose from over 130 nonprofit fundraisers. The goal is 5,500 unique donors. World-Class Pain Management You Can Trust Right Here in Your Community Joshua Minori, DO Pain Management Dr. Minori is a double-boarded physician specializing in non-surgical management of neuromusculoskeletal disorders as well as acute and chronic pain conditions. He completed his fellowship in pain medicine at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis). His residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation was completed at Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital/University of Chicago. Before attending medical school at Philidelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, he earned a degree in athletic training and worked as a Certified Athletic Trainer in high schools, colleges and physical therapy clinics. Dr. Minori is determined to help patients regain function and improve their overall quality of life using a comprehensive patient-centered approach to care. PARK CITY SPECIALTY CLINIC 900 Round Valley Dr, Ste 200 | Park City, UT 84060 435-658-7400 | ParkCityClinic.org Together, we can do this! Give at LivePCGivePC.org! Thank You To o Our Sponsors Presenting Sponsor Apex Sponsors Summit Sponsors |