APS deploys a public safety power shutoff for the 1st time in Flagstaff area

Arizona Public Service is shutting off power on Wednesday to approximately 6,000 customers in the Flagstaff area due to high winds.

APS said its public safety power shutoff is due to increased wildfire risk because of high winds with gusts up to 70 miles per hour and dry conditions.

The outage will impact people in eastern Flagstaff and surround communities such as Cosnino, Doney Park and areas around Grand Canyon National Park. The outage is limited and targeted, APS said.

Power will be out for 12 to 24 hours beginning at 9 a.m., but the weather conditions could further delay power being restored, APS said.

APS said it is concerned the wind could pick up debris and push it into electrical lines or equipment, igniting a wildfire.

“We've seen everything from trampolines to canopies that end up in our power lines and knocking off equipment during these same types of wind speeds and other storms,” said APS spokesperson Yessica del Rincón. “We've seen even steel metal poles that are bent forward. So this is really a decision that we may be making out of precaution to try to help reduce wildfire risk.”

Del Rincón said public safety power shutoffs are only used during very rare and extreme conditions.

PSPS have been a tool available to APS since 2024 to prevent wildfires in extreme conditions. Wednesday is the first time APS has called a PSPS event.

Del Rincón said the conditions on April 22 are extremely rare.

“The combination of strong winds, up to 70 miles per hour, in addition to the dry conditions that we're seeing is of concern,” del Rincón said. “Our meteorologists normally see these types of dry conditions in June, and so now we're seeing them in April.”

Del Rincón said shutoffs could occur during the summer months if conditions are similar.

“That is something that we will definitely consider, but we would be working closely with emergency managers, whose area of specialty is providing communities with resources necessary to make sure that they're safe and comfortable during the time of outage,” del Rincón said.

But Carter Humphreys, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said this weather is not atypical for this time of year. He said wind gusts could be as high as 40-50 miles per hour, not 70.

“You can never rule out a stray gust to a stronger speed, but the majority of the area, for the majority of the day, should see gusts in that 40 to 50 mile an hour range,” Humphreys said. “Immediately downwind of the terrain, there could be just a stray gust for a brief moment, but that's the extent of it. And even then, I wouldn't say it would be up to 70.”

Humphreys said gusty days are typical for April, but it is drier with a lower relative humidity.

“We're definitely starting to get into that higher fire danger point in the year, but we aren't at that point where we felt the need to issue red flag warnings,” Humphreys said.

In a statement, the city of Flagstaff said officials have been informed of the APS power shutoff in some areas in the eastern part of the city.

Flagstaff said residents can use generators, and they should check emergency kits and batteries in flashlights and smoke detectors, ensure gates and garages can be opened manually, disconnect appliances, not open refrigerators and freezers and to check on their neighbors.

Residents who rely on lifesaving medical equipment should contact APS to notify the utility of their electricity needs.