06/14/2026
Wildfires can affect power in more ways than people may realize. In some situations, lines may be deenergized in advance to help reduce fire risk or to allow firefighters to work safely near transmission equipment.
After a wildfire, restoring power depends on more than whether a line looks undamaged. Crews must wait for fire officials to clear the area, and conditions like heavy smoke can still make it unsafe to reenergize. It is all part of protecting crews, first responders and the public while working to restore service as safely as possible.
Learn more about how wildfires can affect power outages at https://www.bpa.gov/learn-and-participate/community-education/hydropower-101/power-outages via Bonneville Power Administration