Do High-Voltage Transmission Lines Get Shut Down During Wildfires?

Every wildfire season, one common question that often arises is: Are high-voltage transmission lines shut down when wildfires occur? With fire spreading through forests and mountains, many people wonder whether the active power lines that run across these areas might cause additional risks such as electric arcs, explosions, or safety hazards for firefighters. In this post, we will explore how power supply management works during wildfires and whether high-voltage transmission lines are actually shut down when such disasters happen.     How Is Power Supply Managed During Wildfires? The short answer is that high-voltage transmission lines can be automatically or manually shut down depending on the situation . However, not all power lines are immediately turned off whenever there is a wildfire nearby. The decision to cut power depends on several critical factors, including the proximity of the fire to the lines, heat levels, and the risk of damage to transmissio...