Anabel Roza is Seattle City Light’s Vegetation Management & Wildfire Mitigation Manager
As we head into another dry summer, Seattle City Light is preparing for the start of wildfire season in Washington state. While the risk of wildfires is real, we want you to know that your safety — and the reliability of your power — are our top priorities.
Keeping you safe: Our approach to wildfire risk
Our goal is to prevent wildfires before they start while keeping your power on whenever possible. At City Light, we are committed to:
- Reducing wildfire risks while maintaining reliable electric service.
- Protecting our communities, infrastructure, and environment.
- Partnering with you to build resilience.
Unlike some utilities, we do not currently have a formal Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program in place. However, during high-risk events, we may temporarily deenergize certain lines to protect critical infrastructure, firefighters, and keep the public safe. Even when we deenergize lines, we can reroute power to minimize outages.
As part of our Wildfire Risk Reduction Strategy (WRRS), we are evaluating whether a formal PSPS program would be appropriate for our service area. This evaluation is based on wildfire risks, customer impacts, and community feedback.
In the meantime, we continue to work closely with emergency management agencies to protect life and property. If a shutdown becomes necessary, we are committed to minimizing the scope and duration to reduce any impacts on our customers.
What City Light is doing now
We approach wildfire prevention through a proactive, multi-layered strategy:
- We upgrade equipment with fire-resistant infrastructure.
- We monitor conditions in real time, especially during Red Flag warnings.
- We provide field crews with fire safety training and equip them with water trailers during high-risk periods.
- We manage vegetation near power lines to create defensible space and reduce potential fire fuels.
Read more about our WRRS here: Wildfire Preparedness – City Light | seattle.gov
How you can help
Prepared communities are safer communities. Here’s how you can help:
- Create defensible space around your home.
- Plant fire-resistant plants like Oregon grape, lavender, salal, and red-flowering currant.
- Have an emergency plan and kit ready during wildfire season.
Every action you take strengthens our shared resilience. Together, we can reduce wildfire risks and build a safer region for everyone.
Our commitment to you
Wildfire risk is growing across our region. By working together, we can build a safer, more prepared community. We’re committed to taking action to protect you, your families, and our beautiful environment.
Learn more about how City Light prepares for wildfire season at seattle.gov/city-light/wildfire-preparedness. Stay safe, stay prepared — and thank you for partnering with us.