Wildfire Mitigation Planning

Driving wildfire mitigation planning with predictive risk management

According to a recent Congressional report, the annual economic burden of wildfires reaches as high as $893 billion. By mid-century, the risk of wildfires could increase six-fold in some areas (see map).

As wildfires increase in frequency and in cost to the U.S. economy, utilities are under increasing pressure to escalate their mitigation efforts—both from regulatory bodies and from concerned stakeholders. Establishing a clear action plan is crucial for effective wildfire mitigation. This includes taking responsible actions by individual property owners and fostering collective actions within communities.

Logic20/20 taps into the power of AI and machine learning to help utility providers assess wildfire risks, fine-tune their response plans to reduce risk, and meet compliance obligations to report on their wildfire mitigation plans (WMPs).

prediction of very large fires by mid-century

Risk intelligence: Aligning on goals and requirements for resilience

Realizing positive ROI from wildfire mitigation initiatives and programs requires a comprehensive approach to align on the goals and requirements of risk intelligence capabilities:



STRATEGY

Risk assessment & wildfire mitigation strategy
Situational awareness & forecasting from wildfire risk modeling



GRID

Grid design, inspections & maintenance
Grid operations & protocols



EXECUTION

Vegetation management & inspections
Asset health monitoring & inspections
Emergency preparedness & community engagement
Modern risk modeling tools and techniques

Wildfire mitigation plan outcomes

Improved reliability – SAIDI and SAIFI

Reduced risk of catastrophic wildfire

Improved ROI of strategic grid investment and hardening

Increased preparedness to meet new regulatory requirements

It all starts with predictive risk modeling

Logic20/20 provides an enterprise risk management framework to guide your utility in operationalizing predictive insights to address wildfire risks. The same principles apply to wildfire risk mitigation as to other risk modeling.

Identify
risk using process and tools.

Analyze
with data insights and expert input.

Evaluate
mitigations, efficacy, and timeframes.

Prioritize
risks and mitigations.

Respond
to risk.

Monitor
remaining or residual risk.

Wildfire Mitigation Planner

Data integration

Vegetation
Climate projections
Customer systems
Weather
Asset information
Fire simulation

Investment outcomes

ROI: Investment dollars meaningfully reduce wildfire risk
Reliability: Fewer unplanned outages and failures
Safer communities: Lives and communities protected with wildfire risk reduction

Mitigation strategies

Mitigation strategies are essential for reducing the risk of wildfires and protecting communities. These strategies can be implemented at various levels, including individual homes, neighborhoods, and entire communities.

Defensible space

Defensible space is a critical component of wildfire mitigation. It refers to the area around a home or building that is cleared of combustible materials, such as dead leaves, branches, and debris. Creating defensible space can help prevent embers from igniting a fire and reduce the risk of damage to homes and buildings.

To create defensible space, homeowners can take several steps:

Clear dead leaves and debris from gutters and roofs/
Trim trees and shrubs to maintain a safe distance from homes and buildings/
Remove combustible materials, such as dead branches and needles, from the area around homes and buildings/
Use fire-resistant materials for roofing and siding/
Create a safe zone around homes and buildings by clearing flammable materials/

Landscape fuel treatment

Landscape fuel treatments involve modifying the landscape to reduce the risk of wildfires. This can include thinning trees and shrubs, removing dead and diseased vegetation, and creating fire breaks. Landscape fuel treatments can help reduce the spread of wildfires and protect communities.

To implement landscape fuel treatments, landowners and managers can take several steps:

Assess the landscape to identify areas at high risk of wildfires.
Develop a comprehensive plan to modify the landscape and reduce fuels.
Implement fuel treatments, such as thinning and prescribed burning.
Monitor and maintain the landscape to ensure that fuels are kept at a safe level.

Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) dashboard

Extreme weather preparedness

Extreme weather events, such as droughts and heatwaves, can increase the risk of wildfires. Communities can take steps to prepare for extreme weather events and reduce the risk of wildfires.

To prepare for extreme weather events, communities can take several steps:

Develop a comprehensive emergency plan that includes procedures for responding to wildfires.
Conduct regular maintenance on equipment and infrastructure to ensure that it is in good working condition.
Provide education and outreach to residents on the risks of wildfires and the importance of preparedness.
Develop a plan for evacuating residents in the event of a wildfire.
Identify areas at high risk of wildfires and take steps to mitigate those risks.