Arizona Public Service announced on Apr. 22 that it will begin a Public Safety Power Shutoff at 9 a.m., affecting about 6,000 customers in high fire-risk communities near Flagstaff and an additional 150 customers in locations around Grand Canyon National Park, excluding Grand Canyon Village. The decision comes as extreme winds, forecasted to reach nearly 60 miles per hour near critical electrical infrastructure, combine with dry terrain and other factors that increase the risk of wildfires.
The proactive shutoff is intended to prevent electrical equipment from starting or contributing to wildfires. Arizona Public Service meteorologists and fire mitigation specialists are monitoring conditions closely and coordinating with local emergency management agencies.
Customers affected by the outage have been directly notified. Impacted communities include Doney Park, Timberline, Fernwood, Mormon Lake, Cosnino, Sunset Crater, Walnut Canyon, Valle, and some areas around Grand Canyon National Park. Power is expected to be out for approximately 12-24 hours but may vary depending on weather conditions or if repairs are needed due to damage. Location maps and more information for affected customers are available at aps.com/psps.
During the outage period, APS crews will patrol lines using ground teams or drones to assess any damage before making repairs such as removing damaged equipment or trimming trees. Once sites are secured and repairs completed safely—including installing poles or stringing new power lines—power restoration will proceed followed by customer notification.
Residents can stay informed by monitoring the APS Outage Map at aps.com/outages for updates on restoration times. Customers should ensure their contact information is current with APS through their online account or by calling the Customer Care Center. Those relying on life-supporting medical equipment requiring electricity should register for APS’s Medical Care program by phone.
Flagstaff’s Murdoch Community Center (203 E Brannen Ave) will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering resources like device charging stations and water during the outage period. Residential customers can also be reimbursed for ice purchases up to specified limits if needed for food preservation; details are available via the Outage Map.
According to its official website, Arizona Public Service delivers power as a regulated utility company serving about 1.4 million customers across Arizona—including border towns as well as rural and urban areas—and provides related services such as outage support programs like this one.
