In December, I was driving along Colorado’s Front Range after a visit with former colleagues. As we reminisced, I shared my concerns about the strong winds we were experiencing along the Front Range and in the foothills, with gusts in the 65 to 85 mph range, and the risk of wildfire (yes, in mid-December).
Folks in land management and wildfire know well that low relative humidity, dry fuels, and strong gusts are a dangerous combination that can lead to rapid fire spread and make incidents difficult to control. Most importantly, these conditions increase risk for first responders and communities and can also limit the ability to safely and effectively use aviation resources for wildfire suppression.
Fortunately, on my way home, I passed multiple utility crews at work. Power line and digger derrick trucks were holding up poles, intersections were temporarily blocked, and workers were servicing traffic lights in the areas where power remains. It was a tangible reminder of how critical infrastructure intersects with weather and wildfire risk.
Across #Colorado, thousands of homes were without power as Xcel Energy proactively shut off electricity for public safety. This is risk informed infrastructure management in real time.
Temporarily de-energizing parts of the grid is a utility decision with broader implications for landscape scale risk reduction. Seeing crews actively stabilizing poles and securing our power infrastructure reinforces that prevention and risk reduction, in general and especially during critical fire weather, is a smart call to avert disasters and is more cost effective than fire suppression.
With that said, a shutoff decision can have real unintended consequences if it is not paired with advance outreach and cross-sector coordination across utilities, transportation, public health, city and emergency management, land managers, first responders, and the customers and communities most directly affected, among others.
As my windows rattle, I am grateful for the crews out there doing the preventive work to protect people, landscapes, and communities.
Andrea Delgado is a nationally recognized policy and communications strategist who has led cross-sector and bilingual initiatives advancing environmental health and justice, wildfire resilience, and expanding access to billions in climate and conservation investments.
