Watch Duty, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, alerts one of nearby wildfires and firefighting efforts in real-time.   

Watching Over the Entire Western United States powered by over 120 volunteers – firefighters, dispatchers, and first responders – who diligently monitor radio scanners and other official sources 24 hours a day and provides the most up-to-date information. They have created dozens of internal collaboration tools & resources from messaging to alerting systems to be notified of every fire start. At any given time there are dozens of reporters monitoring everything. 

Features:

• Real-time Wildfire Alerts
  Receive notifications about the status and conditions on the ground as they change.
• Monitor Wildfires and Prescribed Burns
  Know if that smoke in the distance is a fire you need to be worried about.
• Air Quality & Wind Direction
  See everything that impacts fires in one place.
• Track Active Fire Perimeters
  Using satellite imagery and other official sources y…

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PG&E outages map is here: https://pgealerts.alerts.pge.com/outagecenter/

Outage map with info specific to Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events is here: https://pgealerts.alerts.pge.com/outages/map/

PG&E Geographic Zones - https://www.pge.com/en/outages-and-safety/safety/wildfire-preparedness-support/weather-and-fire-detection.html​

Areas of Nevada and Placer Counties that are served by PG&E are in Zone 5.

Zone outlines are based on the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) High Fire Threat Map https://files.cpuc.ca.gov/Safety/fire-threat_map/Version%201/PrintablePDFs/8.5X11inch_PDF/High_Fire-Threat_District_Map_final.pdf​ (info about the map). CPUC Fire Map is here:https://files.cpuc.ca.gov/Safety/fire-threat_map/2018/PrintablePDFs/8.5X11inch_PDF/CPUC_Fire-Threat_Map_final_OLD.pdf

People can sign up for PSPS outage notifications if they have a PG&E account, if they do not have a PG&E account, or if they want notifications for one or more other addresses (work, school, etc.). https://pgealerts.alerts.pge.com/outages/psps-address-alert/

More info:
https://www.pge.com/en_US/residential/your-account/account-management/manage-your-account/alerts-and-notifications/update-your-contact-information.page?utm_source=spm-gs&utm_campaign=pge-psps&utm_medium=trfc-allpge-kw-pub-a-en&utm_content=search-SPMAAC884ED&gclid=CjwKCAiAv_KMBhAzEiwAs-rX1HMusJIJAxsy7R-ruAg5tExoHhdB4-VxdCjVAp1L4TbBYS4FUK0DphoCRUcQAvD_BwE

WHEN A POWER SHUTOFF HAPPENS go to this page for updates:
https://pgealerts.alerts.pge.com/updates/
If this link does not work it may be due to extremely high volume. Try again later.

For translated support in over 200 additional languages, please call PG&E at 833-208-4167.

Scroll down that page (link) to find locations of Community Resource Centers where devices can be charged and other COVID-safe services may be available.

To get to that same page people can also put "pge power shutoff" into the search engine on their phone, bring up the PG&E page, and click the button to "Get Current Information."

Look up your address and see an outage map - https://pgealerts.alerts.pge.com/updates/

Weather awareness, zone map, definition of terms for PSPS potential (not expected, elevated, PSPS watch, PSPS warning) - pge.com/weather

FOOD SAFETY DURING AND AFTER A POWER SHUTOFF
https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/food-safety-during-power-outage

PREPARING FOR A POWER SHUTOFF
PG… [read more]

PG&E seeks to keep customers and communities safe.

PG&E is partnering with customers in high fire-threat areas to create safe space between distribution lines and trees and brush that can act as fuel for wildfires. Customers can use the tools on the PG&E website to find out if they are in a high fire-threat area and if they are in an area where the power may be shut off for safety.

During or After a Wildfire

Contact PG&E to:

• Ask about bill payment assistance
• Immediately stop service
• Learn more about power restoration, financial support and the rebuilding process

Call Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) at 1-800-743-5000 or visit PG&E’s Wildfire Recovery Support webpage for more information.

Web pages

• Wildfire Preparedness & Support - https://www.pge.com/en/outages-and-safety/safety/wildfire-preparedness-support.html
• Outage Preparedness & Support - https://www.pge.com/en/outages-and-safety/outage-preparedness-and-support.html
• Wildfire Rec…

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What is a Clean Room?
A clean room is a room that is set up to keep levels of smoke and other particles as low as possible during wildfire smoke events. A clean room should be free from activities that create particles such as cooking or smoking, and the doors and windows should be kept closed to prevent smoke from getting in. A clean room can also contain a portable air cleaner that makes the air in the room cleaner than the rest of the home.  

Why Create a Clean Room?
If there is an active fire in your area, or if the Air Quality Index indicates smoke levels are unhealthy and forecasted to remain there, local authorities may advise you to stay indoors or create a clean room. Spending time in a clean room at home can help reduce your exposure to smoke while staying indoors.
Conditions can change quickly, so you should always be prepared to evacuate if necessary. Follow your local news, the AirNow website, https://www.airnow.gov/, or your state air quality website for … [read more]

The CPUC High Fire Threat District (HFTD) map is online. You can enter your address to learn if you are in a High Fire Threat District.

The CPUC’s Fire Map (or FireMap) is at . Most of Nevada County and Placer County are in Tier 2 or 3. To find your tier, click on the Layer List icon at top right of map. Some PG&E programs use this map to determine program eligibility (e.g. for portable backup battery program).

ABOUT THE MAP
The CPUC High Fire-Threat District Map includes three fire-threat areas:

Zone 1 consists of Tier 1 High-Hazard Zones (HHZs) from the United States Forest Service (USFS) and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) joint map of Tree Mortality HHZs. Tier 1 HHZs (CAL FIRE) are in direct proximity to communities, roads, and utility lines, and are a direct threat to public safety.

Tier 2 consists of areas on the CPUC Fire-Threat Map where there is an elevated risk (including likelihood and potential impacts on people and property) from wildfires … [read more]

ALERTCalifornia is a public safety program working to understand wildfires and other natural hazards and determine short and long-term impacts on people and the environment to inform management decisions.

The state-focused program manages a network of more than 1,060 monitoring cameras and sensor arrays, and collects data that provides actionable, real-time information to inform public safety. In addition to the camera network, and in response to increasingly frequent and severe climate-driven disasters, ALERT California is prioritizing novel data collection and research. These data are open-source and are shared with fellow institutions and partners.

Advanced technology offers fresh insight into the cascading disasters associated with wildfires, such as post-fire debris flows, floods, and erosion. These data will lead to a greater understanding of natural disasters and their long-term pacts on air, water, and soil quality as well as human health in California.

Web pages

• Home - https://al…

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Wildfire smoke can irritate your eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. It can make you cough and wheeze and can make it hard to breathe. If you have asthma or another lung disease, or heart disease, inhaling wildfire smoke can be especially harmful. Staying indoors and reducing physical activity are the best ways to protect your lungs from wildfire smoke. Wearing a special mask called a “particulate respirator” can also help protect your lungs from wildfire smoke.

How to Choose the Correct Mask to Protect Your Lungs
• Choose a mask called a “particulate respirator” that has the word “NIOSH” and either “N95” or “P100” printed on it. These are sold at many hardware and home repair stores and pharmacies.
• Choose a mask that has two straps that go around your head. DO NOT choose a mask with only one strap or with straps that just hook over the ears.
• Choose a size that will fit over your nose and under your chin. It should seal tightly to your face. These masks do not come in sizes that fit young … [read more]