07/07/2026
UPDATE - We moved out of Elevated Fire-Safe Mode after the Red Flag Warning expired at 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday the 8th. We’re pleased to report there were no large nor extended outages during the event. Thank you for your understanding and for doing your part to keep our community safe from wildfires!
It's only the middle of July and this will be a long fire season, so please stay vigilant, aware and prepared!
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🚩🚩🚩🚩 Red Flag Warning this Wednesday: PUD Not Shutting Off Power, But Customers Should Prepare for Possible Extended Outages 🚩🚩🚩
The US National Weather Service Spokane Washington has issued a Red Flag Warning for parts of Pend Oreille County this Wednesday.
Because of the increased wildfire risk, customers in the central and southern areas of Pend Oreille County should be prepared for the possibility of longer power outages if an outage occurs. If one does occur, restoration may take longer than normal because crews must inspect power lines and equipment before restoring service to make sure it is safe to do so.
To help reduce wildfire risk, the PUD will activate Elevated Fire-Safe Mode beginning Wednesday, July 8 at 11:00 a.m. This will affect areas from Blueslide south through the Pend Oreille River Valley and the southern portion of Pend Oreille County.
Elevated Fire-Safe Mode is one of the tools we use during Red Flag Warnings to help reduce the risk of electrical equipment contributing to a wildfire. During this mode, our system is set to its highest sensitivity level so it can respond more quickly when something goes wrong on the line.
Under normal conditions, if a power line experiences a temporary issue, such as a tree branch contacting a line, the system may attempt to automatically restore power. During Elevated Fire-Safe Mode, those automatic restoration attempts are disabled and power is shut off immediately.
To be clear, this is not a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS). We are not proactively turning off power. If your power goes out, it will be because of something like a tree, wind, wildlife, or equipment issue, not because the PUD shut it off. If the system is operating normally, your lights stay on.
We encourage customers to:
- Be prepared for the possibility of longer outages, especially if you rely on medical equipment, well pumps, or other essential needs.
- Use generators safely. Never plug a generator directly into a wall outlet. Always use a properly installed transfer switch to prevent dangerous backfeed that could seriously injure or kill utility crews.
- Stay informed by visiting www.popud.org or following Pend Oreille PUD on Facebook for updates.
We know outages are aggravating, but these additional precautions help protect our communities during periods of extreme fire danger.
Thank you for your understanding.
