Southern California Edison is taking to the sky to survey power line equipment from above in efforts to reduce wildfire risk in Santa Clarita. 

Southern California Edison (SCE) has routine maintenance for their extensive network of power equipment, but the utility is now preparing for the extreme fire danger in Southern California, that is in no way “routine.” 

“We have reset all of our inspection schedules, and are taking a look at all of the equipment,” said David Song, a spokesperson for SCE. “Most of it is on the ground, but certain things you can’t see.” 

SCE has contracted with several different companies to survey lines with helicopters to see the equipment from a different perspective.

“Some things, like the tops of transformers you can’t see on the ground,” Song said. “We have used helicopters in the past for high lines, which are in areas with more difficult terrain, but now we are using them for other lines.” 

Residents could expect more helicopters hovering around Santa Clarita neighborhoods, but there is no danger, it is just another tool in SoCal Edison’s arsenal to prevent wildfires. 

“The goal is to survey the area and take photos to see if anything needs repair,” Song said. “There might be some noise in the area, but this is important work to ensure there are no issues.” 

There are also several other programs in place to reduce fire risk. 

“Santa Clarita is an area with a large risk of fire danger,” Song explained. “We are doing our best to mitigate any possible fires started by power equipment.”

In most areas, power lines are not insulated, creating a potential ignition point if the lines are downed. 

“We are starting to insulate more lines in the area,” Song said. “This could reduce the fire risk but also prevent some other dangers to the lines themselves.”

Metallic balloons could create an arc between two lines, causing sparks or even an outage. Wildlife is also an issue in more rural areas, according to Song. 

Santa Clarita, with most of the valley being a tier one or two fire risk, the highest potential danger, is a part of the service area SoCal Edison is focusing on to lessen the potential for fire. 

“We are working hard to make sure our equipment is in proper working order,” Song said. “This is all in efforts to keep our customers and communities safe.”

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