The following is a press release issued by Pacific Gas and Electric:
In response to customer and community requests, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) listened and will soon start dispatching crews to gather wood that was cut down following the Oak Fire and August Complex Fire in 2020.
After the Oak and August Complex Fires, PG&E crews and contract vegetation management crews worked to restore power safely and quickly to customers. This included inspecting and cutting down hazardous trees that posed a potential safety risk to work crews or electric equipment. This work was done in coordination with CAL FIRE and other agencies responding to the wildfires.
After completing tree work, crews chipped wood that was less than four inches in diameter and spread the chips on-site, where possible. Because wood is considered the property of the landowner, any wood larger than four inches in diameter was left onsite. There is no legal or regulatory requirement to remove large-diameter wood, since it is the property of the landowner.
In response to customer and community feedback, crews will return to those sites and dispose of the large-diameter wood that PG&E crews cut down for safety following the 2020 wildfires, if safely accessible and approved by the property owner.
PG&E has already completed the inventory portion of this work, which included contacting and working directly with customers who have wood that qualifies for the program. PG&E currently plans to begin removing wood in mid-August, with the goal of completing work this summer.
PG&E contractor crews will be performing this work and will carry identification to provide upon request. Customers who have questions about the Wood Management Program in 2020 wildfire areas should call 1-877-295-4949.
