Fort Jones and Etna system resiliency
Improving safety and reliability
We’re taking actions to enhance reliability and reduce the risk of equipment-related wildfires, including by replacing aging overhead power lines in areas with higher wildfire risk with fire-resistant infrastructure, such as covered conductor, and burying lines underground in some areas.
Since 2020, crews have rebuilt sections of the electrical system near Fort Jones and Etna, including:
- Installing 92 miles of covered conductor
- Replacing 1,800 poles with non-wood poles
These enhancements are helping improve the reliability of our system as we adapt to the growing threat of wildfire in Northern California and the West.
New infrastructure powering Northern California
Projects in Fort Jones and Etna areas
- These projects are upgrading the safety and reliability of power lines to help prevent wildfire.
- This project will increase community safety by replacing wooden poles with steel poles, and using covered conductor on power lines, which will significantly reduce wildfire risk.
Local impact
- The Fort Jones projects are broken into three segments that will be worked on at different times:
- The Fort Jones Part 1 project are replacing 40 miles of bare conductor with covered tree wire and installing 800 wooden distribution poles and 90 transmission structures.
- The Fort Jones Part 2 project are replacing 80 miles of bare conductor with covered tree wire and installing 1,600 wooden distribution poles. On the transmission line, 8 miles of bare conductor will be replaced with covered tree wire and 150 wooden transmission poles will be replaced with steel structures.
- The Walker Bryan project are replacing 80 miles of bare conductor with covered tree wire and installing 1,600 wooden distribution poles and 140 wooden transmission poles.
- Pacific Power is working closely with Siskiyou County, Quartz Valley, the California Department of Transportation, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service on these projects.
Progress to-date
- The Fort Jones Part 1 project is under construction with replacement of conductor and poles. Crews completed work on a portion of this project in 2025. The remaining 15 miles of conductor and pole replacement will be completed in 2026 and 2027 in conjunction with a transmission project. See map below.
- The Fort Jones Part 2 project is under construction with replacement of conductor and poles. Crews completed work on a portion of this project in 2025. Work on the remaining 75 miles of the project will be completed in 2026 (35 miles) and 2027 (40 miles).
- The Walker Bryan project is under construction with replacement of conductor and poles. Crews completed work on a portion of this project in 2025. Work on the remaining 48 miles of the project will take place in 2026.
Project map
More ways we're increasing safety and resilience
Wildfire prevention
We regularly inspect equipment and manage vegetation around power lines, poles and substations to reduce the chance of sparks or interference.
Advanced technology
Our expert teams use advanced situational awareness tools and technology to deliver your power safely in all weather.
Vegetation management
We're conducting aerial and ground patrols to identify potential hazards, removing trees before they can come into contact with lines, expanding vegetation clearance around poles and more.