There are two primary wildfire outage types: fire-caused grid damage and a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), where utilities proactively de-energize lines to reduce wildfire ignition risk. You may have to deal with fire danger, grid instability, evacuation pressure, and more.
PowerOutage.us tracks 950+ utilities serving 200+ million customers and provides 96% U.S. coverage, offering national visibility into wildfire-related outages and restoration timelines. Learn how to prepare for outages below, and use PowerOutage.us to understand the scope, location, and duration of wildfire-driven grid disruptions.
What causes a wildfire power outage?
A wildfire power outage is more likely during fire season (often May to October in many regions). Check your local utility’s PSPS map and fire weather alerts before peak season so you know whether preventive shutoffs are common where you live.
Some main reasons for a wildfire-related outage are:
- High winds: Wind can push tree limbs into power lines, cause conductor contact, or knock debris into distribution equipment. If wind gusts exceed safe operating thresholds, utilities may trigger a PSPS to prevent downed-line ignitions that can start a wildfire and force a longer outage.
- Low humidity: Dry air lowers ignition thresholds, so any line fault or equipment failure has a higher chance of sparking a fire and leading to a wider wildfire outage footprint.
- Dry vegetation: Drought-stressed fuels can light with a spark, and heavy fuels can slow repair access, extending a wildfire power outage.
- Red Flag Warning: The National Weather Service may issue a Red Flag Warning when critical fire weather conditions are forecast, which often precedes heightened PSPS risk and increased outage probability.
Outages from PSPS vs. fire damage
A Public Safety Power Shutoff happens when utilities determine that forecasted weather and fuel conditions create unacceptable wildfire ignition risk. Utilities monitor humidity, wind speeds, vegetation dryness, and real-time field observations before initiating a PSPS, and they may stage crews for post-shutoff inspections. This is a preventive measure designed to reduce fire starts from energized lines, even though it can interrupt service for entire circuits.
Unplanned wildfire power outages happen when fire directly damages poles, transformers, substations, or transmission corridors, or when smoke and heat force utilities to de-energize equipment for firefighter safety.
In both scenarios, utilities often must patrol lines and inspect equipment before restoration. This can slow power return even after flames move away.
What do Public Safety Power Shut-offs do?
Public Safety Power Shutoffs are designed to reduce wildfire starts, specifically by removing electrical energy from at-risk lines during extreme fire weather. This eliminates the possibility of those de-energized circuits producing an ignition via arcing, conductor slap, vegetation contact, or equipment failure.
- Regulatory rationale: CPUC guidance describes PSPS as a technique to reduce the likelihood of utility equipment causing or contributing to wildfire during extreme conditions.
- Utility risk-benefit: PG&E post-event reporting describes a PSPS risk–benefit framework that compares the risk of keeping circuits energized against the potential avoidance of catastrophic wildfire consequences from de-energizing.
How long can a wildfire power outage last?
As with other types of outages, a wildfire power outage could last anywhere from several hours to multiple days. The duration depends on fire behavior, road closures, access constraints for line crews, wind conditions, and post-event inspection requirements (especially after PSPS events and high-wind periods).
Typical PSPS timeline and notification vary by utility and conditions
Utilities typically follow this sequence for PSPS-driven wildfire outages:
- Days to a week ahead: Utilities increase monitoring and staffing as fire-weather risk rises.
- 48 hours before shutoff: Potential PSPS communication begins, often with impacted-circuit updates.
- 24 hours before shutoff: Impacted areas are refined as forecasts change.
- 1–4 hours before shutoff: Final notification (when possible) before de-energization.
- During outage: Field patrols and safety inspections begin once winds subside and conditions allow safe access.
- Restoration: Power is restored after the infrastructure is verified safe and damaged sections are repaired.
Plan for a minimum 48-hour self-sufficiency window during any wildfire power outage. Extend planning capacity to 72 hours or more in high-risk regions, and assume you may face rolling shutoffs across multiple days when Red Flag conditions persist.
Depending on your utility company, you might get notifications of PSPS events at slightly different times. PG&E says it notifies as early as 48 hours and then 24 hours prior (plus additional alerts), while SDG&E’s policies describe customer communications at 48 hours, 24 hours, and again prior to shutoff when practical.
California CPUC enforcement documents and guidance also reflect expectations around 48 and 24 hours in advance and imminent notifications within one to four hours (when applicable).
Create a wildfire outage and evacuation plan
Define your evacuation plan before wildfire season so an outage doesn’t force last-minute decisions in heat, smoke, or darkness. This is precisely when it’s hard to make these types of decisions. Plan for two scenarios: evacuation orders and loss of essential electricity (cooling, refrigeration, communications, or medical device power).
- Identify at least one relocation destination (friend, family, shelter) with stable power and clean indoor air if the smoke is heavy.
- Map two evacuation routes, including one that avoids major choke points and another that avoids high-fuel corridors when possible.
- Keep your vehicle at least half full of fuel. Gas stations may lose power during a wildfire outage.
- Store essential documents in a folder (ID, insurance, deeds/leases) and photograph key records for backup.
- Determine pet transport arrangements and pre-pack carriers, leashes, and medications.
- Monitor updates from local fire authorities and your utility’s outage/PSPS alerts.
- Leave early if conditions worsen. Do not wait for a power failure to start packing.
If you rely on electricity for work, refrigeration, cooling, or medical needs, make a plan to leave tied to outage duration and weather. For example, relocate if a wildfire power outage is expected to last over 24 hours during extreme heat, or if smoke makes it unsafe to keep windows closed without powered ventilation/filtration.
Build a wildfire power outage kit
Create a centralized power outage emergency kit you can rely on if you face smoke, heat, and limited access to stores.
- Multi-day water supply (one gallon per person per day minimum).
- Nonperishable food and a manual can opener for periods without electric cooking.
- Flashlights or headlamps for night-time outages and smoky conditions.
- Extra batteries in sizes that match your lights and radios.
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio or NOAA radio for wildfire and outage updates.
- Car and portable phone charging methods (12V adapter, power bank, charging cables).
- Ice packs and insulated coolers to protect food and medications during outage windows.
- Hard-copy identification, insurance, and medical records for evacuation and re-entry checkpoints.
- Pet food, water bowls, carriers, and vaccination records.
- N95 masks to reduce particulate exposure during wildfire smoke events.
Prepare enough supplies for at least 48–72 hours of a wildfire power outage. Adjust quantities based on household size, heat risk, and whether you live in a PSPS-prone area where shutoffs can recur.
Plan for medical and electricity-dependent needs
If you depend on medical devices or refrigerated medications, a wildfire power outage can contribute to health risks beyond being an inconvenience. Create a medical device outage checklist of what you have to keep powered, for how long, and where you will go if you can’t maintain safe operation at home.
- Refrigerated medications may require temperature control below 40°F. Plan how you’ll monitor temperatures and transport medications if you evacuate.
- Oxygen concentrators, CPAP/BiPAP, dialysis-related equipment, suction devices, and mobility devices may require uninterrupted power. Confirm battery runtime and charging needs.
- Identify a backup power source (medical-grade battery system or properly sized generator) or an alternate care facility with reliable electricity.
- Enroll in applicable Medical Baseline or critical-care programs if available through your utility, and confirm what the program does (and doesn’t) guarantee during a PSPS.
- Maintain a printed list of emergency contacts who understand your equipment, medication schedule, and evacuation needs.
- Relocate early if backup systems cannot safely sustain the required load duration, especially when a wildfire power outage overlaps with high heat or heavy smoke.
Generator safety during wildfire outages
A backup generator can be very helpful during a wildfire blackout, but using it incorrectly can cause injury or even death. Placement, ventilation, and safe electrical connection are extremely important.
- Operate generators outdoors only, even during smoke. Never move the unit indoors to “clear the air.”
- Place the unit at least 20 feet from doors, windows, and vents, with exhaust pointed away from occupied areas.
- Never run a generator inside a garage, even with the door open, because carbon monoxide can build up quickly.
- Verify the electrical load rating before connecting appliances and size the generator to the equipment you need to run (refrigeration, medical devices, and limited lights).
- Use heavy-duty extension cords rated for the intended load and inspect cords for damage before use.
- Avoid backfeeding through a wall outlet, which can electrocute utility workers restoring power after a wildfire outage.
- Install battery-backed carbon monoxide alarms and test them before fire season.
- Don’t attempt permanent connections unless installed by a qualified electrician with an approved transfer switch or interlock, following local code and utility rules.
Using a backup battery system during an outage
If you have a battery backup, confirm proper transfer switching to prevent backfeeding and isolate from the grid during a PSPS event. Check that your backup battery is fully charged and confirm expected runtime before fire weather conditions begin. Make sure you have the system set to power essential circuits during the outage and not the whole house if it isn’t necessary.
What to do during the outage
When a wildfire power outage begins, start your plan immediately and assume conditions can worsen (smoke, heat, or evacuation changes). Confirm whether the outage is PSPS-related or fire-damage-related using your utility’s alerts and an outage tracker, then adjust expectations for restoration time.
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. A refrigerator maintains a safe temperature for about 4 hours. A full freezer remains safe for about 48 hours.
- Follow the 40°F food safety rule. Discard perishable food above this threshold for more than 4 hours, and don’t taste food to “check” it.
- Unplug sensitive electronics to reduce damage when power returns after a wildfire outage repair cycle.
- Stay at least 10 feet away from downed power lines, and keep children and pets far back.
- Monitor official updates via battery-powered radio, mobile alerts, or your car radio if cellular service degrades.
- Conserve device battery life by lowering screen brightness, closing unused apps, and charging from your vehicle when safe.
- If smoke conditions worsen, indoor temperatures become unsafe, or evacuation orders escalate, relocate immediately. Don’t wait for restoration estimates to change.
If you have to evacuate
If evacuation is ordered, or if a wildfire power outage coincides with fast-moving fire conditions, act immediately. Don’t take time to gather nonessential items, and don’t assume power will remain on for door openers, traffic signals, or phone charging.
Before leaving:
- Place your Emergency Kit and critical chargers in your vehicle so you can function without grid power.
- Shut off the gas at the meter only if instructed by authorities. Follow local guidance to avoid creating additional hazards.
- Turn off propane tanks and move flammable items away from the home.
- Close windows and doors, but leave them unlocked if advised by local officials for firefighter access.
- Leave exterior lights on if power is still active to improve visibility in smoke. If power is already out, use battery lanterns briefly while you exit.
- Set your garage door for manual operation if power fails, and confirm you have the emergency release method ready.
During evacuation:
- Follow official routes and law enforcement instructions, especially if signals are out due to a wildfire power outage.
- Avoid downed power lines and damaged infrastructure, and treat every line as energized.
- Be aware of fire movement, wind shifts, and traffic congestion.
- Keep your phone charged using a car charger or battery pack and monitor official updates.
If trapped:
- Stay in your vehicle with windows closed.
- Park away from heavy vegetation and avoid positioning under power lines.
- Call emergency services and share your exact location; conserve battery if service is limited during the outage.
Return only after official clearance. Re-entry during active wildfire conditions (or while utilities are repairing wildfire power outage damage) raises risk and can interfere with emergency response and restoration work.
Returning home (or restarting) after a wildfire outage
Return only after official clearance from local authorities, and expect hazards tied to both fire damage and wildfire power outage repairs. Restoration work can involve crews, temporary lines, and unstable structures, so move carefully and document damage for insurance.
When you come back home:
- Inspect for downed lines before approaching the structure. Report hazards to the utility and emergency services.
- Check gas lines and propane tanks for damage or leaks; leave immediately if you smell gas and follow local reporting procedures.
- Look for smoldering embers in attics, vents, eaves, mulch, and landscaping; extinguish small spot fires only if safe and you have water.
- Avoid re-energizing damaged electrical systems. If you see burned outlets, melted wiring, or water intrusion, keep circuits off.
- Contact qualified professionals for inspection if structural damage is suspected, or if smoke/ash entered electrical panels or HVAC equipment.
- Restore utilities only after safety verification, and discard food that warmed above safe temperatures during the wildfire power outage.
Final preparation checklist
Wildfire power outages combine environmental hazards and infrastructure disruption. Reduce risk by acting before fire weather intensifies:
- Monitor Red Flag conditions and sign up for utility PSPS/outage alerts.
- Confirm your Evacuation Plan and define triggers tied to smoke, heat, and outage duration.
- Stock your Emergency Kit for a 48–72 hour wildfire power outage.
- Document medical backup needs and confirm battery runtime, fuel supply, and relocation options.
- Verify generator safety setup and confirm you can run critical loads without backfeeding.
- Prepare for at least 48–72 hours without power, including repeat shutoffs during extended fire weather.
- Prepare now and determine your thresholds. Relocate early if conditions exceed safety margins.
Wildfire power outage preparation recap
A wildfire power outage requires advance planning, clear decisions, and acting fast. Track Red Flag Warnings and local fire updates, confirm evacuation routes and meeting locations, pack an emergency kit for smoke and heat, plan for medical device power backup, and follow generator safety rules to prevent carbon monoxide exposure.
Plan for 48 to 72 hours without electricity and relocate early if fire behavior, smoke impacts, or expected outage duration exceed your household’s safety limits. Use PowerOutage.us to track outage status in your area.