OAKLAND — For the first time, PG&E is sending helicopters out to inspect 25,000 miles of power lines, and residents in the East Bay may see blue PG&E choppers flying low to the ground starting this week.
It is part of PG&E’s effort to prevent power lines from sparking disastrous wildfires. The aircraft, which are marked “Fire Patrol” on the underside, will hover about 300-500 feet above the ground looking for any trees or branches that could cause power lines and other equipment to fail.
The inspections began in other parts of California in April and inspection crews are now making their way to Bay Area. Letters and automated phone calls started going out to customers in the Oakland Hills this week, alerting them to the flyovers.
“We will be working throughout most of the month of July here in the Bay Area,” says PG&E spokesperson Tamar Sarkissian. “You will be noticing helicopters not just in the Oakland Hills but other parts of the Bay Area as well, especially those high fire danger areas.” That includes Marin, Napa and Contra Costa Counties.