After 10 days of near-record warm temperatures and very dry conditions, Xcel is preparing to shut off power Wednesday for some customers to prevent power lines from sparking a wildfire as strong winds are in the forecast.
The outage will likely start at 10 a.m. and impact 52,000 customers in Boulder, Clear Creek, Jefferson, Larimer and Weld counties, Xcel said Tuesday afternoon.
Strong downslope winds are likely Wednesday, peaking in the afternoon, forecasters with the National Weather Service’s Office in Boulder are predicting. Gusts could reach 75 to 85 mph in the mountains and foothills, above 9,000 feet along the Front Range. Parts of the lower foothills west of Interstate 75 could see gusts over 75 mph. And up to 60-mph gusts are forecast across the northern plains Wednesday evening.
Conditions are expected to improve about 6 p.m. Wednesday, but if the power is shut off, restoring it could take several hours to several days, Xcel said. High winds that could create wildfire risk are expected to continue through Friday.
“This is because crews must inspect lines and repair damage before they can be safely re-energized,” Xcel said.
Xcel said it will also be ready to stop the flow of electricity along the Front Range if an issue, like a tree branch touching the line, is detected.
Major and rural electric providers use the power shut-offs as a wildfire mitigation tool when extreme weather is forecast. California has used the shut-offs, known as public safety power shut-offs, for more than a decade, but used them more frequently after the 2018 Camp fire, which killed 85 people, destroyed thousands of structures and burned more than 150,000 acres.
The outages were not used before the December 2021 Marshall fire, which investigators determined was caused by sparks from an unmoored Xcel power line along with embers from a reignited burn on a resident’s property.
Both fires merged as 100-mph winds blew the embers into dry brush. The fire, Colorado’s most destructive in history, killed two people and destroyed nearly 1,000 homes and businesses.
Here’s how you can prepare for a public safety power shut-off:
- Set your fridge and freezer to the coldest setting to keep food cold for up to four hours in the fridge and up to 48 hours in the freezer
- Stock up on batteries and consider buying portable charger banks
- Create a home emergency kit with a battery-powered radio, flashlights, backup phone chargers, a first-aid kit, bottled water and nonperishable foods
- Keep an emergency supply of prescription and nonprescription medications on hand and plan for medications, like insulin, that require refrigeration
- Fully charge personal medical devices and ensure a backup power source is available for electrically powered equipment
- Check in with your neighbors, especially older people and those with disabilities
- Write down emergency numbers and critical contact information
- Designate a dedicated outdoor space for generators, grills and stoves, and make sure they work. Don’t operate these items indoors or in particularly enclosed spaces.
- Practice opening garage doors without the electronic motor.
Even if you have electricity, Wednesday will bring critical fire danger. Avoid outdoor burning or any activity that may cause sparks. Strong winds will likely fuel rapid fire growth, forecasters said.