S E C A R E L L I V CEDAR Y A D R U T A S S I TH The Modoc County Vol. 132, No. 16
RECORD Alturas, California
July 18, 2024
$1.00
Serving Modoc Since 1892 16 Pages
Multiple Power Outages Cause Frustration Community Wide Multiple power outages affected the Alturas area last week, one of which had more than 2,200 customers without power throughout the county, according to Pacific Power’s outage map on Friday morning. Fortunately the outages only lasted a couple of hours, but both caused some real frustration throughout the community. Some expressed concern because of comfort with the high temperatures, and others had major concern for the elderly and/or those who require access to electricity for 24/7 medical supplies or equipment. When power goes down, anywhere in the county, the company responsible for the lines/equipment is notified and crews are dispatched to find where the outage occurred and what the cause was before any damage can be repaired and power turned back on. Considering how many lines there are in our area alone, this in itself
can take hours. Once the problem is found and assessed, the crews work to get power back on as quickly, and as safely as they can. Power outages, especially in the summer and early fall months, seem to be a more frequent occurrence as years go on. They can happen for many reasons, and at this time the cause of last week’s outages are unknown. According to Surprise Valley Electric, it was not an outage on their part or issue with their systems. Their main objective was rerouting power quickly to get service back up and running for their customers. We were unable to receive a comment from Pacific Power on the situation. Being prepared for a planned or unplanned power outage involves a few essential steps to ensure safety and comfort. First, stock up on non-perishable foods and bottled water, as refrigeration will most likely not be available.
Keep a battery-powered or hand-crank radio to stay informed about weather updates and emergency information if you’re in an area without cellphone service. Have backup power sources
on hand, like portable chargers, solar chargers and power banks to charge your electronic devices. Utilize solarpowered or batteryoperated fans and lights to help manage heat
and maintain visibility at night. Create an emergency kit that includes first aid supplies, necessary medications, and important documents. Additionally, make sure to plan for the
needs of pets and those with medical conditions that require electricity. Staying proactive and organized will help to navigate the challenges of a summer power outage more effectively.
High Awareness Weekend for U.S. Forest Service in Modoc
Red flag warnings and scattered thunderstorms prompted a temporary increase in staff and resources in the Modoc National Forests over this past weekend. Multiple agencies from all over the country were brought in to assist the U.S. Forest Service in preparation for the less than ideal weather conditions. Crews that have been brought in are sent to both the West
zone, which includes Big Valley and Double Head Ranger Districts and the East zone, which includes Warner Mountain and Devils Garden Ranger Districts. From there the crews, engines and equipment are assigned to different areas within the Modoc National Forests, depending on conditions and needs. The many crews were strategically placed throughout the forests to
facilitate rapid response should any incidents occur. As expected, the thunderstorms from the weekend produced numerous lightning strikes in the northern part of the state, resulting in two fires in the Modoc National Forests. The Kellogg fire, located on the Devils Garden Ranger District, was reported at a tenth of an acre in total. Fire crews responded quickly,
allowing them to gain control of the incident, keeping it small. The Halls Fire, in the Halls Meadow area in the Big Valley Ranger District, was reported at 8:11 PM Sunday. As of 5 o’clock Monday evening the fire was reported at 12 acres with 90 percent containment, after crews spent the day working on constructing containment lines to halt any progression.
Fortunately, no structures were threatened by these fires, and none were reported to be involved or damaged. Personnel numbers can differ in situations like these because various engines, hand crews, and equipment have different personnel counts. However, numerous agencies were willing and able to respond within Modoc
National Forests, likely preventing the two fires that did ignite from growing any larger. When speaking with Suzanna Johnson, the U.S. Forest Service Modoc’s Public Affairs Specialist, she reminds the public in the midst of this year’s fire season to “Be vigilant, and be fire safe. The more you do to prevent the fire from starting, the less work is needed.”