Hawaiian Electric’s Post

🔥Workshop Minutes Now Available: "Wildfire Management Innovation and Policies"🔥 Greetings esteemed colleagues and wildfire management professionals, We are pleased to announce that the minutes from the "Wildfire Management Innovation and Policies" workshop held on May 30, 2023, as part of the RISE-SD 2023 event, are now available for download on our website (https://rise-sd2023.eu). 📋 Workshop Highlights: The minutes offer a comprehensive summary of the rich dialogues and debates that transpired across three pivotal panels: 1️ Holistic Approach and Integrated Management of Landscape Wildfires: This panel delved into multi-disciplinary strategies for landscape-level wildfire management, emphasizing the integration of ecological, social, and technological dimensions. 2️ National Wildfire Management Action Plan (including Peer-Review Framework): This session focused on the formulation and evaluation of national-level action plans, incorporating a robust peer-review mechanism to ensure scientific rigor and stakeholder alignment. 3️ Science and Technology Contribution to Improving Wildfire Management Operations: The final panel explored the latest advancements in European research and technology that are poised to revolutionize wildfire management practices. 📥 Download the Minutes: To gain insights into these critical discussions, you can download the minutes from the RISE-SD2023 website. https://lnkd.in/dk_Bs_Pz We look forward to your engagement and continued collaboration in advancing wildfire management strategies at both national and international levels. #RISESD2023 #KnowledgeSharing #Networking #RISESD2024 #technology #research #innovation #security #defense #europeancommission #h2020 #horizoneurope #europeansecurity #Innovation #Networking #collaboration

The BC Energy Regulator (BCER) hosted a post-season wildfire roundtable with the goal to understand the impacts of the 2023 fire season on participants, to look at key actions undertaken and to identify best practices for future years. During the round table discussions, recommendations for five key topic areas were suggested. These can be summarized as: 1o Geographic Information Systems: Essential need to improve information sharing, simplify or better identify which mapping coordinate system is in use and ensure reliability of the services. 2o Evacuation and Re-entry Processes: Improved process needed to ensure requests for access to critical infrastructure can be prioritized, better tracking of persons entering and exiting an evacuation zone and faster response to requests to allow for early morning access. 3o Communications: Pre-fire season sharing of critical contacts across agencies and companies, including creation of multiple contacts and contact methods, check-in procedures for persons in evacuation order areas and better reporting process for site evacuations. 4o Preparedness: Improvements to emergency plans to include wildfires, staff evacuation procedures and improvements to site fire resilience including structural protection. 5o Safety: A stronger focus on pre-season training, refreshing awareness of tools and procedures was emphasized as an important contributor to the overall safety of both the responder community and those who work in proximity to seasonal and industry risks. Full 2023 Wildfire Report can be found here: All Hazards Map can be found here: https://lnkd.in/gecZrqeA From Information Update IU 2024-09, you can find the full Update here:: https://lnkd.in/gCHQqzSx #BritishColumbia #2023Wildfires #RoundTable #report #BCWildfires #continuousimprovement #Environmental #GeographicInformationSystems #Evacuation #Reentry #Communication #Preparedness #Safety #engagement

As many utilities in the western United States are ramping up wildfire planning and management efforts in light of increasing wildfires, what does the new paradigm look like? #GuidehouseExperts Katie Bertcher, Larry Gelbien, and Stuart Schare share their insights on how utilities can build resilience and manage risks related to wildfires: https://lnkd.in/gBgkfFqR

Many utilities in the western United States are ramping up wildfire planning and management efforts in light of increasing wildfires. #GuidehouseExperts Katie Bertcher, Larry Gelbien, and Stuart Schare share their insights on how utilities can build resilience and manage risks related to wildfires: https://lnkd.in/ewNEbm9b

🔥 Just In: The US Wildfire Management and mitigation Commission's latest report, a milestone in wildfire management, has been submitted to Congress on September 27, 2023. This comprehensive document, totaling 148 recommendations, represents one of the most extensive examinations of the wildfire system to date. These recommendations are organized around seven crucial themes that lay the groundwork for a more resilient future: 1️⃣ Urgent New Approaches: The report advocates for innovative strategies to combat the wildfire crisis, emphasizing the need for bold, immediate action. 2️⃣ Supporting Collaboration: Improved partner involvement at all levels is essential to foster cooperation and maximize our collective impact. 3️⃣ Shifting from Reactive to Proactive: We must transition from reacting to fires to proactive planning, mitigation, and recovery efforts. 4️⃣ Enabling Beneficial Fire: To reduce catastrophic wildfires, the report suggests harnessing controlled fires as a tool to manage risk effectively. 5️⃣ Supporting and Expanding the Workforce: Addressing the crisis requires hiring and retaining a skilled wildland firefighting staff, ensuring adequate resources. 6️⃣ Modernizing Tools for Informed Decision-making: Leveraging technology and data is crucial for informed, strategic wildfire management. 7️⃣ Investing in Resilience: By increasing spending now, we can significantly reduce long-term costs associated with wildfires. This report underscores the urgent need for a paradigm shift in how wildfires should be approached. It's a call to action for policymakers, organizations, and communities to come together, implement these recommendations, and build a safer, more resilient future🌲🔗 #WildfireManagement #FireSafety #Collaboration #Resilience - https://lnkd.in/djunA-uK

It is that time again, folks. As wildfire season winds up, I wanted to share some lessons learned from the 2020 wildfire season and what we wish we had in place before the high AQI levels affected our employees and contract staff. High AQI is challenging for any Crisis Management Team (CMT) to handle. With everyone having a smartphone, it was difficult for decision-makers to communicate the facility's status amid varying data ‘opinions’ from management and staff. AQI readings could vary significantly depending on measurement location, and our action threshold was 300. Without a reliable internal and external data source, there were gaps in decision-making. Some sites closed while others stayed open when they should have ceased operations. What Did We Learn? Establish a single data source for decision-making. We chose airnow.gov. Communicate this to your team so they know where the decision-making data comes from. If budget permits, partner with a company to support a regional dashboard and install/maintain internal and external AQI monitors for better decision-making. Train your team and conduct exercises to familiarize them with the process. Provide AQI training, action levels for response, and communication methods during incidents. Practice sending messages to identify gaps in the communications plan. This is also a good time to update emergency contact information. Ensure the CMT is trained on tactical and strategic actions to manage the incident and maintain internal AQI. Finally, the biggest impact on operations was air scrubber management. If you are in a high AQI area, you MUST have an air scrubber management program to mitigate impacts and protect your people and assets. The plan should include: - Escalating action levels for protecting employees - When to bring yard workers indoors - When to close and re-open a facility - Supply of MERV 11-13 filters - Ability to limit or close fresh air intakes - Deployment and maintenance plan for air scrubbers - Supply contract with fixed pricing for air scrubbers High AQI can significantly impact operations. Planning and a solid action policy can simplify response to these incidents. In our latest case study, Jonathan Reeves offers a comprehensive list of actionable steps to fortify readiness. Don’t wait for the smoke and high AQI to take action! Join the organizations that rely on Risk Resiliency to develop tools for smooth operations during any crisis. Contact us today to discover how we can assist your business in staying resilient and prepared this wildfire season! #OrganizationalResilience #WildfireSeason https://loom.ly/U-FH3bc

A new report places Pacific Gas and Electric Company in top tier of Western #utilities for its #wildfirepreparedness and #prevention. The report by the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment looked at the increased risk posed by wildfires in 13 Western states and evaluated the wildfire plans for more than 40 utilities serving customers in those states. PG&E’s comprehensive #wildfiresafety plan, bolstered by continued #investments in #safety and technological #innovation, earned a spot among the most prepared utilities. PG&E’s Community Wildfire Safety Program relies on multiple layers of #protection to ensure the safety of our #customers and #communities. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gW6Xz_Ps https://lnkd.in/gY-YRWum

In today's world, being ready for natural hazards is more important than ever. This article by my EM3 colleague Sandra Dennis-Essig really drives home the need for communities to step up their game in planning and response. With natural events becoming more frequent and intense, public safety agencies need to team up, get creative, and use the latest tech to keep our communities safe and resilient. Preparedness isn't just good practice—it's key to protecting our community. Nice work, Sandra! #PublicSafety #EmergencyManagement #CommunityPreparedness #NaturalHazards

NERC's "Wildfire Mitigation Reference Guide" from January 2021 Safety and Reliability: NERC's Wildfire Mitigation Reference Guide emphasizes the importance of utility equipment's safety and reliability in mitigating the risk of wildfires. BluemaxUSA dynamometers, known for their precision and durability, provide an essential tool for utilities to test and ensure that their equipment operates safely, minimizing the risk of equipment failure that could lead to sparks or fires. Regular Testing and Maintenance: As the reference guide advocates for regular equipment inspection, maintenance, and replacement to reduce wildfire risk, using BluemaxUSA dynamometers can be an integral part of such routines. By assessing the performance and health of utility equipment, utilities can proactively identify and rectify issues before they become major hazards. Reducing Conductor Sag: The reference guide mentions conductor sag as a concern. If, hypothetically, BluemaxUSA dynamometers can be used to test and measure the tension in power lines, they could help ensure that conductors are appropriately tensioned, thereby reducing sag and the risk of contact with vegetation below. Compliance and Documentation: The reference guide underscores the importance of utilities maintaining comprehensive documentation of their mitigation efforts. Using BluemaxUSA dynamometers, which often come with advanced data logging and reporting capabilities, can aid utilities in gathering and documenting essential data, showcasing their commitment to safety and compliance. Financial and Environmental Benefits: Preventing wildfires is not only about safety but also about preserving the environment and avoiding the financial consequences of devastating fires. By investing in high-quality equipment like BluemaxUSA dynamometers, utilities can potentially save significant costs in the long run by averting equipment-related fires, the associated damage, and the subsequent fines or litigation. First time right using BluemaxUSA dynamometers #sizematters