As the Elk Fire continues to burn north of Lake City, Gunnison County Electric Association (GCEA) is actively monitoring conditions and coordinating with Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association, the U.S. Forest Service, emergency management officials, and local agencies to protect critical electric infrastructure and support wildfire response efforts.
The safety of our members, employees, first responders, and the communities we serve remains our highest priority.
GCEA and Tri-State crews are working alongside fire management personnel to identify infrastructure at risk and implement protective measures, including wrapping selected power poles with fire-resistant material to help reduce damage from advancing fire.
“Tri-State is working closely with Gunnison County Electric Association, taking proactive measures to protect essential infrastructure, while supporting response efforts. The safety of the community and our cooperative employees is our top priority. We are committed to providing timely, transparent updates, and will communicate clearly and as early as possible to keep the community informed,” said Tri-State Senior Vice President Operations Chris Pink.
Because wildfire conditions remain elevated, GCEA's electric distribution system has been placed in non-reclose mode.
Under normal operating conditions, protective equipment automatically attempts to restore power after a temporary fault, such as a tree branch contacting a power line. During periods of extreme wildfire risk, automatic reclosing is disabled to reduce the possibility that a damaged or compromised power line could create sparks capable of igniting additional fires.
Operating in non-reclose mode means that any outage caused by vegetation, wind, wildlife, or fire-related impacts will require GCEA line crews to physically inspect the affected circuit before power can be safely restored. While this precaution may result in more frequent outages and longer restoration times, it is an important step in reducing wildfire risk and protecting our communities.
"We understand that power outages are disruptive, especially during an active wildfire," said Mike McBride, CEO of Gunnison County Electric Association. "However, operating in non-reclose mode is one of the most effective measures we can take to reduce the risk of our electric system contributing to additional fire starts while ensuring it is safe to restore power."
GCEA encourages members to prepare for the possibility of temporary outages by:
- Keeping mobile devices charged.
- Having flashlights and fresh batteries readily available.
- Ensuring backup power sources are used safely and according to manufacturer instructions.
- Following evacuation notices and emergency information issued by local authorities.
The cooperative will continue working closely with emergency responders and provide updates as conditions evolve.
GCEA's thoughts are with the firefighters, emergency personnel, residents, and visitors affected by the Elk Fire, and we are committed to supporting the ongoing response in every way possible.