Pasadena Committee to Review Comprehensive Wildfire Mitigation Plan for 2025

The Pasadena City Council’s Municipal Services Committee is set to review Pasadena Water and Power’s 2025 Wildfire Mitigation Plan on Tuesday, outlining the utility’s ongoing efforts to reduce wildfire risks in high-threat areas.

The comprehensive plan details PWP’s strategies to minimize potential ignition sources and enhance electric grid resilience across its service territory, where approximately 26% falls within high fire threat districts.

Since 2020, the city-owned utility has completed several significant fire-prevention projects, including installing more than 33,500 feet of covered conductors in high-risk zones and replacing 23 utility poles with more durable composite alternatives.

“The plan’s primary objective is to minimize ignition sources while improving electric grid resiliency,” according to an Agenda Report prepared for the committee meeting.

PWP serves over 68,000 customer accounts across 23 square miles, maintaining approximately 180 miles of overhead power lines and 583 miles of underground lines. The utility has allocated $7.8 million in capital improvement funding specifically for wildfire mitigation projects.

The utility monitors for Red Flag conditions and automatically disables reclosers during high fire danger periods. Although PWP has authority to preemptively shut off power in extraordinary circumstances, this approach is not currently planned as a regular strategy.

Future projects scheduled for 2025-2026 include converting overhead high voltage lines to underground systems in Tier 3 high-risk areas along Canyon Close Road, Fox Ridge Drive, Florecita Drive, and Crestford Drive. Additionally, PWP is planning an underground expansion project in Upper Hastings Ranch for fiscal year 2026.

The plan’s performance metrics show PWP has reported zero utility-caused fire ignitions from 2020 to 2024, with only eight electrical wires down incidents over five years, most occurring during rainstorms with minimal fire risk.

The next independent evaluation of the plan is scheduled for 2026.