Wildfire Mitigation

The purpose of this Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP) is to proactively reduce the risk of wildfires associated with CCEC’s electric utility infrastructure.

Cass County Electric Cooperative (CCEC) is a member owned electric cooperative providing service to all or parts of 10 counties in southeastern North Dakota with approximately 60,000 members. CCEC manages an extensive network of overhead and underground distribution lines. The utility operates in areas with varying risk levels for wildfires, especially in locations where vegetation, topography, and weather conditions combine to increase the likelihood of ignition.

The primary objective of this Wildfire Mitigation Plan is to outline the processes, systems, and practices designed to:

Prevent wildfires caused by CCEC’s electric utility infrastructure.
Respond effectively to wildfire threats.
Maintain situational awareness of fire risks.
Protect public safety, personnel, and the natural environment.
Maintain reliable service while adhering to safety standards.

Operational Practices & Training

CCEC operates a 24/7 staffed Power Control Center supported by a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, allowing real-time monitoring of the grid, rapid fault detection, and early identification of wildfire risks. Any SCADA alarms are immediately investigated, with engineering staff reviewing issues and field crews dispatched to patrol and address potential hazards before they escalate. Crews are extensively trained to safely handle equipment, carry extinguishers for small fires, and promptly report or call 911 for dangerous situations, ensuring both personnel safety and wildfire mitigation.

Vegetation Management

CCEC conducts annual vegetation management through contract crews and operations personnel, following ANSI A300 Part 7 standards and a 5–7 year distribution system cycle approved by the Board of Directors. A qualified Right-of-Way contractor leads routine trimming and addresses high-growth or trouble spots, while CCEC personnel provide additional clearing as needed. Vegetation issues are identified through regular line patrols, SCADA alarm monitoring, and proactive inspections, ensuring timely trimming, removal of hazards, and extra attention during periods of high fire danger.

Design & Construction

CCEC follows strict national safety standards and adds extra fire safety measures when building or upgrading equipment, such as wider crossarms, covered wires, and wildlife protections to reduce fire risks. Older devices like oil-filled reclosers and expulsion fuses are being replaced with safer technology, and strategic undergrounding of lines is prioritized in the highest fire danger areas. Each year, CCEC invests up to $3 million in these design improvements and vegetation management to keep the system safe and reliable.

Inspection & Maintenance

CCEC line crews patrol the system every two years to catch and fix potential fire risks like vegetation growth, equipment issues, or damaged poles. Utility poles are also tested on a 10-year rotation to make sure they remain strong and reliable, with any unsafe poles replaced right away. In addition, CCEC uses infrared technology and drones to inspect power lines, helping spot trouble areas early and safely reach locations that are difficult for vehicles.

Situational Awareness

When a Red Flag Warning is issued, CCEC increases patrols in high-risk areas and may adjust protective device settings to reduce fire risk, even though this can lead to longer outages. In extreme conditions, Public Safety Power Shutoffs may be considered, prioritizing the safety of first responders, healthcare, communications, and water services. After a wildfire, crews patrol and isolate damaged lines, make repairs starting from substations, and restore service in stages once it is safe. CCEC also uses internal and state fire risk maps to guide monitoring and response.

Planning

Wildfire mitigation efforts will be integrated into several levels of the CCEC distribution planning efforts. The maps developed internally will be used to better plan vegetation management cycles in locations of higher risk. These areas of higher risk will also be considered first both for undergrounding of overhead lines during the construction work plan process and identification of where to put non-expulsion fuses or reclosers without oil. All of this can be used in the long range plan to better address areas of vegetation and limit their wildfire potential within the distribution system.

Community Outreach & Communication

In the event of a wildfire, CCEC activates its Crisis Communications Plan to provide timely updates on outages, safety information, and restoration progress through social media, website updates, local media, and automated messaging. CCEC coordinates closely with local fire departments by sharing training on systems, response plans, and fire safety measures. Any work on U.S. Forest Service land is promptly reported, and areas under USFS jurisdiction are mapped within the service area.

Accountability

CCEC is committed to accountability and will review this plan annually to ensure procedures are current and effective. Reviews will identify improvements, incorporate feedback from local fire departments, and provide updates to the Board of Directors. CCEC also participates in the development of state and local wildfire protection and mitigation plans.