Arizona Public Service (APS) announced on Apr. 13 that it is increasing wildfire preparedness efforts in rural and forested communities as summer approaches and dry conditions continue across the state. APS fire mitigation specialists, foresters, and meteorologists are monitoring weather patterns and preparing the energy grid to maintain reliable power.
Reducing wildfire risk is important for public safety, especially in areas served by APS where customers depend on uninterrupted electricity. “Reducing wildfire risk is a daily priority,” said Scott Bordenkircher, APS Director of Forestry and Fire Mitigation. “Our teams forecast weather and environmental factors, and we work closely with firefighters and emergency managers to make safety-focused and data-driven decisions. Our goal is to help protect you and keep the electricity you count on flowing, especially during extreme weather.”
APS has implemented several proactive strategies over more than ten years as part of its comprehensive wildfire mitigation program. These include deploying artificial intelligence smoke detection cameras for early fire identification, using advanced meteorological tools to track fire behavior, maintaining vegetation around power infrastructure, collaborating with first responders who have hotshot crew experience, and supporting emergency plans.
The company may use Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) in high-risk areas during extreme weather to prevent wildfires. Although PSPS has not been used since its introduction in 2024, APS has sent information about this tool to potentially affected customers via mail or email. Targeted areas include Coconino, Gila, Navajo, Pinal, and Yavapai counties; customers can check their status at aps.com/psps.
Emergency managers from various counties encouraged residents to stay informed by signing up for local alerts and taking steps such as building emergency kits or registering medical equipment needs with APS. Daniel Kelly of Flagstaff said: “Preparedness really comes down to working together as a community… Taking a little time now to prepare for potential outages… can make a big difference if conditions lead to a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS).” Tim Carter of Coconino County added: “Through collaboration with partners such as APS… we support proactive measures — including comprehensive vegetation management… that help reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires.” Similar calls were made by officials from Gila County (Carl Melford), Navajo County (Catrina Jenkins), Pinal County (Kore Redden), and Yavapai County (Ashley Ahlquist).
By coordinating efforts between private utility providers like APS—which delivers power to about 1.4 million customers across Arizona according to the official website—and public agencies throughout urban and rural regions according to the official website, communities aim for greater resilience against emergencies caused by wildfires or power outages.
In addition to providing electricity across much of Arizona—including border towns—APS offers related services such as service setup or transfer support programs like Energy Support Program discounts based on income eligibility according to the official website. Customers are encouraged by both APS representatives and local officials alike: staying connected with utility updates along with county alert systems increases readiness when facing possible outages due to wildfires.
