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Hot, dry summer days are here – and so is wildfire season in the Willamette Valley. The National Interagency Fire Center anticipates that in July, August, and September, most of Oregon will be above normal in its fire activity.

The Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) is taking steps to reduce wildfire risks and build a more resilient electric system by investing in operational changes and equipment that provide year-round resiliency against disasters ranging from wildfires to winter storms.

“Over the next 10 years, about 30% of EWEB’s Electric Capital Improvement Plan budget will go towards resiliency investments, including leveraging new technologies that will aid in management of the electric system and response to major incidents.” Said Electric Operations Manager Tyler Nice. “Within that category, about 20% of costs associated with maintaining and upgrading EWEB’s distribution system are spent specifically on wildfire-related efforts.” 

Wildfire mitigation activities focus on improved technology

In April, EWEB’s Board approved our 2025 Wildfire Mitigation Plan, which builds on the plan we initiated in 2022. With more intense wildfire seasons—such as last year’s record 1.9 million acres burned in Oregon—we’re taking steps to mitigate risk and improve the resilience of our electric system.

Key improvements in the updated plan include:

• Using AI and satellite tools to spot areas where trees need trimming near power lines so that wind and ice storms don’t cause the trees to contact power lines.
• Installing a new weather station near Blanton Heights to improve weather forecasts and determine when fire danger is high.
• Upgrading equipment in high-risk areas reduces the likelihood of sparks from equipment failure and enhances response time.
• Offering support programs for customers in high-risk zones who rely on power for medical devices or mobility.

EWEB has also collaborated with a wildfire modeling expert to conduct over 11 million fire simulations, enabling the utility to better understand the locations of the most significant risks and target response and mitigation efforts to achieve the most significant reductions in risk.

EWEB reduces risk with grant funding

EWEB has three active grant projects to offset the cost of some of these wildfire mitigation efforts:

• Fuels Reduction Grant. EWEB was awarded $1 million for wildfire resiliency projects in partnership with the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), McKenzie Fire and Rescue (MFR), and the Eugene Springfield Fire Department. The United States Forest Service (USFS) is the agency administering the funds to EWEB. This project will reduce wildfire fuels, increase public safety by creating more defensible space and fuel breaks, educate landowners about wildfire mitigation practices, and improve accessibility for first responders.
• Oregon Department of Energy Grid Resiliency Grant. This three-year, $1.2 million grant – currently in contract negotiations – would fund a project to increase resiliency for equipment and rebuild nine miles of older distribution in the Cedar Flats neighborhood. This part of EWEB’s service territory experiences more frequent outages due to extreme weather events such as the 2024 ice storm.
• Headwaters Trail Electric Reliability Upgrade. This grant will fund a project that will use approved FEMA funds to rebuild overhead lines near the Amazon Headwaters Trail in South Eugene, while undergrounding distribution lines and modernizing transmission structures. After the City of Eugene issues permits, the project should start construction in late summer 2025.

“These projects help improve electric reliability and resiliency to wildfires and are a win-win for our community,” said EWEB Resiliency Program Manager Jeannine Parisi.

EWEB encourages community members to maintain awareness of wildfire risks and prepare for potential summertime electric outages. Customers in high-risk areas may experience more frequent and extended outages when wildfire operational safety settings are in place.

Additionally, customers in high-risk areas should be aware that during extreme fire weather conditions, the utility may enact a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS).

See EWEB’s High Fire Risk Zones, learn about PSPS, and read EWEB’s 2025 Wildfire Mitigation Plan at eweb.org/wildfire.

Customers can take action to reduce risk, too.

Wildfire safety, like all emergency preparedness, begins at home. In Oregon, people are the cause of more than 60% of wildfires. Taking steps now helps protect homes, loved ones, and the entire community.

Here are three simple steps to take today:

Create Defensible Space

Keep the area around your home clear of dry grass, brush, and debris. Embers can travel miles ahead of a wildfire—keeping things trimmed could make all the difference. 

Be Informed. Make a Plan & Pack the Six P’s:

• People & Pets
• Prescriptions
• Phones & Chargers
• Plastic (credit cards/cash)
• Papers (IDs, documents)
• Personal electronics
• Sign up for Lane County Emergency Alerts so you can act fast when every second counts.

Know Before You Go

Planning to camp? Fire restrictions often change. Before you build a campfire, check with local land managers or visit keeporegongreen.org for fire safety tips.

Together, we can reduce wildfire risks and keep our communities safe.