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APS tells Prescott council it’s expanding cameras, weather stations and patrols to reduce wildfire risk; PSPS remains tool of last resort
Summary
Arizona Public Service briefed the council on enhanced vegetation management, defensible-space work around poles, grid hardening, camera/AI detection and weather-station deployments; APS said public-safety power shutoffs remain a last-resort safety measure and described communications and patrol plans.
Arizona Public Service officials gave an overview April 8 of expanded wildfire-mitigation measures serving the Prescott area, including more aggressive vegetation management, new camera and weather-station installations, grid hardening and technologies meant to reduce ignition risk and speed detection.
Frank Sanderson, APS northern-division director, told the council the utility now clears 10 feet around pole-mounted devices under its DSAP program (defensible space around poles), uses an insulating “fire mesh” on many wooden poles, and has increased the frequency of inspections in growth-prone corridors. APS has added infrared scanning, drones and a larger dedicated fire-mitigation team (about 18 specialists) and has deployed advanced grid and fire‑risk modeling tools to inform operations.
Sanderson described two kinds of new cameras: standard pan/zoom units and 360-degree AI-capable cameras with infrared sensing that can detect smoke and heat and automatically notify utility and emergency partners. He said cameras have already helped identify a fire (the Brady Fire near Mayer) and that APS masks private backyards and windows in camera views to address privacy concerns.
On the operational side, Sanderson explained the distinction between a non-reclosing strategy (used during high fire risk so lines don’t automatically re-energize after a fault) and public-safety power shutoffs (PSPS). He said PSPS is a tool of last resort and described the chain of notifications: APS managers notify county emergency managers and municipal leaders first; customers in affected circuits would receive repeated notices; and on the morning after a de-energization most circuits receive in-person patrols (15–30 patrollers, helicopters and drones as needed) to inspect lines and restore power as soon as it is safe.
Sanderson said the utility has expanded the PSPS footprint for portions of Prescott to include circuits serving Iron Springs, Senator Highway, Whitespar and Delano based on recent assessments; he estimated average PSPS durations could be about 20 hours when used, but stressed the exact duration depends on weather and repair needs. He also said APS has installed thousands of fault indicators — small devices that blink to help technicians find outage locations more quickly.
Council members asked about contacting APS for local hazards (for example, service tied into a tree) and about impacts to medically dependent customers; Sanderson invited residents with specific concerns to meet APS staff after the presentation and confirmed APS coordinates closely with Yavapai County emergency management.
Why it matters: The presentation described a mix of prevention, detection and response tactics APS says are needed as fire season conditions become more persistent. The report included details on day-to-day patrols and large-scale PSPS protocols that affect residents’ emergency planning.
What’s next: APS said it will continue deploying cameras and weather stations and will work with city and county emergency managers on outreach and notification plans for any future PSPS events.
