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Wildfire Season: How You Can Prepare

Summer temperatures and high winds typically extend fire season from May through October, but PGE prepares year-round to protect people, property and public spaces from wildfires. Learn how you can prepare for wildfire season, too.

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Outages & Safety

Safety

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Start by creating a defensible space

Defensible space is the buffer you create between your home or business and the grass, trees, shrubs or any other wildland area that surrounds you. You can start by clearing away flammable trees and plants. Contact your city or county emergency management office to learn how you actively reduce wildfire risk by establishing defensible space around your home or business.

Tips to create defensible space

Prepare for Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS)

During wildfire season, extreme conditions may lead to a PSPS. This is when we proactively turn off power to potentially prevent a wildfire when conditions threaten our ability to safely operate the grid. It is a last-resort safety measure to protect people, property and public spaces. Below is how you can prepare for a power outage or PSPS.

Stay in the know

Make sure we have your current phone number and email so we can send updates if service is interrupted or if there’s a PSPS. You can update your contact information online, in the PGE app or by phone. The outage map is also available anytime to see what’s happening in your area.

Make a plan

The outage kit checklist also has a planning checklist on the back, but you can start here for the basics:

Plan ahead to relocate with a friend, family member or to a shelter, especially if you have a medical condition that requires electricity or you work or learn from home
Always keep ice packs in your freezer to keep food cold until you can get ice and know how to keep your food safe
Have a plan so you don’t lose your water, like stored water or bulk water delivery — especially if powering a well pump during an outage
Plan for feeding and watering pets or livestock if well pumps don't have power
Consider buying a backup generator and follow the manufacturers' guidelines for its safe operation

Create a summer outage kit

Having essentials in one place helps everyone feel more at ease. Make sure everyone in your household knows where the kit is kept. Start with:

Flashlights or headlamps and extra batteries
A battery-powered or hand-crank radio
Car chargers for phones and devices
Bottled water for people and animals
Emergency contacts, including PGE Customer Service at 503-228-6322

You can find a full power outage kit here.

Plan for medical needs

If you or someone in your household depends on electricity for medical equipment, planning ahead is especially important.

Consider backup power options when possible, enroll in the Medical Certificate program so we’re aware of your needs and identify places you could stay if power isn’t available at home.

Keep your medical needs powered, no matter what

We encourage customers with medical needs and facilities that care for vulnerable populations and depend on electricity for medical equipment to have a backup source of power and contingency plans in the event of an outage.
Enroll in our Medical Certificate Program, this lets us know where there are critical needs so we can proactively communicate with you about outages.
Plan ahead to relocate with a friend, family member or to a shelter if needed.
Consider buying a backup generator and follow manufacturers' guidelines for its safe operation.

Plan for evacuation

Plan your evacuation route if needed (see your county’s evacuation guide). Keep your car fueled, know where to go and alternate routes to get there. It's also a good idea to take photos of every room in your home, including your garage and shed, so you have an inventory of your belongings if you need to make an insurance claim.

Create an emergency kit

In addition to actions and outage kit items listed above, here are a few emergency items you should have ready to go in the event of an evacuation.

Hard copies of what you need in an evacuation like ID and passports, financial records, insurance information, legal records, birth certificates and social security cards and a paper map of your area.
Glasses, dentures, hearing aids, prescription and over-the-counter medicine, medical equipment and supplies like extra oxygen
Infant supplies, pet supplies including collar with ID tags, personal hygiene and sanitation supplies
Clothing, shoes/boots, summer-weight jackets, work gloves, extra undies, socks, pillows and blankets or sleeping bags, dust/face masks, sunglasses and rubber gloves
First aid kit, whistle to signal for help, wrench or pliers to turn off utilities, a knife or multi-purpose tool, duct tape, twine, paper and a marker for leaving notes or labeling your items

Find a more comprehensive list of emergency kit items that might also be useful here.

Community involvement

Wildfire prevention takes all of us. We work closely with local, state and federal land and emergency management agencies, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Oregon Department of Forestry, Tribes, fire districts and emergency responders to plan and coordinate on wildfire prevention and response. Here's how you can get involved.

Invite us to speak at your event

Still have questions or don't quite know what to ask? We get it! That's why PGE employees are available to speak at your business, community or school event. Request a PGE representative

Wildfire Ready Events

Our wildfire plans include you! Every spring, we host Wildfire Ready events where you can learn about our Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP) and share your thoughts as we develop next year's plan. If you have questions before next year's events, contact us.