Skip to Content

Related News

  • Related News

  • Last Call for EWEB/Lane County Septic Grants

    Holiday Farm Fire recovery program now eligible for businesses, residential property owners who purchased post-fire, to cover inspection costs and new construction

    Find Out More
  • EWEB, Lane County host open house to gather feedback for “Leaburg Transportation Alternatives Analysis”

    “What is the Future of the Leaburg Dam Bridge?” open house exhibit on display at Lloyd Knox Park Visitor Pavilion through July 25

    Find Out More
  • EWEB Pilots New Line Safety Program for 4th graders.

    This year, EWEB is ramping up power line safety for children, specifically 4th graders.

    Find Out More
  • Improving habitat resiliency throughout the Upper McKenzie

    Environmental Responsibility is a core guiding value for EWEB decision-making. This summer, EWEB continues its commitment to environmental stewardship with a robust slate of habitat enhancement updates throughout the upper McKenzie River, across the footprint of the Carmen-Smith Hydroelectric Project.

    Find Out More
  • Habitat Restoration Underway on McKenzie River

    Partners at EWEB, McKenzie River Trust, the McKenzie Watershed Council, and the U.S. Forest Service broke ground on a major floodplain restoration project in Quartz Creek.

    Find Out More
  • Show More
EWEB crews assist electric restoration in N. California

December 04, 2018

EWEB line technician attaches a new crossarm on a power pole

Three EWEB line crews on Tuesday marked their 15th straight day working to restore electric service to the thousands of people victimized by the Camp Fire that struck northern California on Nov. 8.

The crews are part of a nationwide mutual aid initiative to rebuild the electric system in and around Paradise and restore service to those affected. At one point, an estimated 20,000 residents were living without power. Many of those lost their homes to the fast-moving fire.

The fire resulted in 85 confirmed deaths and the destruction of almost 14,000 residences.  

"It was an amazingly devastating event," said Scott Mehlbrech, a Line Crew Lead II who visited the crews last week. "I've never seen anything like it and it's hard to find the words to describe the destruction."

The 13 EWEB line technicians are working 16-hour shifts and are based at a makeshift camp in the Chico area that serves as a temporary home for line crews from as far away as Florida and Hawaii.

Electric utilities in the United States have mutual assistance agreements to help one another rebuild power lines and poles after disasters in order to connect homes and businesses to the electric grid as soon as possible.

In 2016, EWEB called for mutual assistance to help restore service following an ice storm that heavily damaged Eugene's electric system.