PG & E helicopter in Humboldt this week is part of safety and reliability work in the area

This week, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) will fly a helicopter saw along an electric distribution line in Humboldt County as part of a safety and reliability work in the area.

A helicopter saw, or heli-saw, is a series of circular saws suspended from a high-performance helicopter used to trim the tops and sides of trees near high voltage transmission and distribution lines. PG&E uses the heli-saw in remote areas to maintain safe and reliable service to its customers.

PG&E will prune the limbs to prevent future power outages and to increase public safety. A helicopter saw is a safe, efficient way to prune trees in remote areas where snow and muddy roads make safe vehicular access of the transmission and distribution lines a challenge.

The work will take place on a distribution line that runs near Highway 36 between Dinsmore and Bridgeville in Humboldt County.

Here is the schedule, although weather and other factors might impact it.

Wednesday, Dec. 4: From the Dinsmore store to Burr Ranch Road, including Oak View Road, Tree Farm, Stagecoach Road and Buck Horn Summit Road.Thursday, Dec. 5: Burr Ranch Road to Upper Larabee Road including Hidden Valley Road, China Mine Camp Road and Larabee Valley Road.

Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6-7: Upper Larabee Road to 23688 Highway 36 in Bridgeville.

The heli-saw will fly from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

This targeted project is one part of PG&E’s enhanced vegetation management program in which the company prunes or removes approximately 1.4 million trees annually. PG&E’s 70,000 square-mile service area includes more than 120 million trees with potential to grow or fall into overhead power lines.

PG&E inspects and monitors every overhead electric transmission and distribution line each year, with some lines patrolled multiple times (18,000 transmission miles plus 81,000 distribution miles is about 100,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines).