Wildfire Preparedness

When wildfire season approaches, clear, timely communication is critical! We have been working hard behind the scenes to create a page to keep you informed before, during and after a wildfire! Stay tuned for additional resources.

If you want to jump right into the Wildfire Mitigation Plan, you can access it here:  MWEC Wildfire Mitigation Plan

For questions or more information:
Email: pr@mwec.com
Phone: 800-279-2667

Reduce Your Risk of Wildfire

As wildfire season approaches, knowledge and preparation can go a long way in helping you feel more at ease. While we can never predict the unexpected, we can prepare for it. Several preventative strategies at Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative (MWEC) help mitigate fire risk, including electrical system maintenance and inspection, pole testing, vegetation management, and the ability to detect and isolate faults quickly with up-to-date technology, just to name a few.

There are also small steps you can take today that can make a big difference.

  • Sign up for your community’s emergency warning system.
  • Have an evacuation plan in place for your household.
  • Research and implement “wildfire defense zones” to protect your home. Zone 1 is a 30-foot circle around your home that is free from leaves, debris and flammable materials.
  • Trim branches that overhang the home, porch, and decks.
  • If trees are near a power line, call MWEC. Our Right-of-Way crew is available to remove or trim trees or vegetation that are progressing towards or leaning on MWEC lines.
  • Be prepared to evacuate if authorities say to do so.
  • Do not park vehicles or equipment in tall dry grass or shrubs.
  • Tools like lawnmowers or chainsaws can cause sparks fires, use them during cooler times of the day and keep them in good working condition.
  • Consider adding fire suppression tools to vehicles or equipment that will be used in dry locations.
  • If you see a down power line or damaged electrical equipment, notify the MWEC immediately. Never approach a downed power line or try to move one; stay at least 50 feet away from the area and warn others to do the same.
  • Be aware of any Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches issued by the National Weather Service.
  • Be sure to acquire any necessary safety permits before beginning a controlled burn.
  • Notify your local fire department and neighbors about the controlled burn ahead of time.
  • Check the forecast for weather conditions, such as wind direction and speed, as well as humidity.
  • Clear all the vegetation and weeds around the area of campfires, controlled burns, or fireworks.
  • Never leave a fire unattended and keep a shovel, bucket of water, fire extinguisher or other fire suppression tools on hand.
  • After extinguishing a fire make sure no hot coal or embers remain. Fires can reignite if not completely extinguished.
  • If your fire gets out of control or gets too close to a power pole or if the pole catches on fire, call 9-1-1 immediately.
  • Once a fire breaks out, never spray water near power lines, or any other utility equipment.

During wildfire season, we all play a role in keeping our community safe. For more information on wildfire safety tips, visit ready.gov/wildfires.  

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