The possibility of a blackout in Tucson because of the Wallow Fire in Eastern Arizona is slim to none, Tucson Electric Power officials said Friday.
The power line closest to the fire near the New Mexico border is about eight miles away and in the opposite direction of the fire’s path, said Joe Salkowski, a Tucson Electric Power spokesman.
There is still a threat and the fire could reach the grasslands near TEP’s Springerville Generating Station but even then, there are no blackouts expected in the Tucson area, he said.
“We can get enough energy from local power plants to cover the needs without energy received through those transmission lines,” Salkowski said. “It would just be like driving with our spare tire, we would just be operating in a more vulnerable position.”
The section of the fire closest to the transmission lines has not advanced significantly in several days, officials said.
People are also reading…
The Wallow Fire is burning across more than 525 square miles and is 5 percent contained, as of Friday. It was burning half a mile from the New Mexico border and about a mile from Springerville and Eagar Thursday night.
Officials have brought in additional generation plants online and began coordinating with other utilities in preparation for the possible loss of those lines, Salkowski said.
TEP is closely monitoring the progress of the Wallow Fire and all other active wildfires, he said.
For updated information on TEP’s tranmission lines go to www.tucsonelectric.com
