Pacific Power repair workers help fire-hit N. California recover

(Update: Adding new photo, stats)

Sixteen Pacific Power crew members from Yreka, Calif., Grants Pass, Medford, Bend and Portland, Ore., are working behind Northern California’s active fire areas to help Pacific Gas & Electric restore electricity.

Over the next 10 to 14 days, they’ll work to help rebuild the area’s distribution system by putting in poles, stringing transmission line and reconnecting customers to the power they need to begin their recovery, the utility said.

The crew at work consists of 12 linemen, two foremen, a manager and a mechanic. They left on Sunday for a base camp outside Santa Rosa, from which the highly skilled team will be deployed as needed.

As part of the extended team of crews from across the West responding to the fire damage, Pacific Power crews have been part of the effort that have replaced 1,000 poles so far.

As the terrain is difficult, four poles were set Thursday with a helicopter to assist.

Pacific Power serves 45,000 customers in Northern California in Del Norte, Siskiyou and Modoc counties, which are beyond the fire zone.