Grid Pulse Newsletter August 2026 | ABB Electrification Business

Wildfire Risk Reduction: Technologies and Strategies That Actually Work

Where to invest for maximum impact

With catastrophic wildfire seasons becoming the norm, utilities in fire-prone regions face mounting pressure from regulators, ratepayers and insurers to demonstrate measurable risk reduction. The question isn't whether to invest in wildfire mitigation, it's where to invest for maximum impact.

ABB supports utilities with a comprehensive approach to wildfire risk reduction. From undergrounding initiatives that eliminate ignition sources to advanced protection systems that minimize fault energy when de-energization isn't an option.

The numbers tell the story: utilities estimate that undergrounding eliminates nearly all wildfire ignition risk from converted lines, while PSPS (Public Safety Power Shutoff) events, though disruptive, remain approximately 95% effective at reducing catastrophic wildfire risk during extreme weather conditions.

For utility distribution engineers and operations managers, the strategic priority is clear:
•	System hardening through undergrounding in the highest-risk corridors
•	Enhanced sectionalization to minimize PSPS customer impact
•	Sensitive protection settings to reduce fault energy and ignition probability
•	Real-time monitoring for faster, data-driven de-energization decisions

ABB delivers proven solutions across this entire spectrum:
•	Elastimold® cable accessories enable reliable underground distribution in fire-prone terrain and harsh weather areas
•	Advanced protection relays support sensitive ground fault detection and rapid fault clearing
•	Distribution automation equipment enables targeted PSPS sectionalization
•	IEC 61850-native communications integrate seamlessly with utility SCADA systems

The utilities having the most success aren't treating wildfire mitigation as a single technology investment. They're building layered defense strategies and choosing partners who can support every layer.

Your wildfire mitigation program deserves equipment from a partner who understands the full picture.

Contact an ABB wildfire mitigation specialist

Wildfire-Ready Switchgear: Integrated Protection for PSPS Operations and Personnel Safety

When critical fire weather strikes, utilities need switchgear that enables precise PSPS sectionalization to minimize customer impact and protect crews and assets from arc flash hazards in volatile conditions.


ABB delivers wildfire-ready distribution solutions that integrate passive and active arc-resistant switchgear with intelligent protection and control, engineered for U.S. utility applications. All our switchgear has the following common elements:
•	5 kV, 15 kV and 27 kV ratings with short-circuit ratings up to 63kA (@ 5/15 kV) to address demanding substation applications
•	Vacuum circuit breakers with embedded pole technology eliminate oil, reducing flammable materials in fire-prone installations
•	Magnetically actuated circuit breakers require minimal maintenance

SafeGear® / SafeGear® HD arc-resistant switchgear:
•	IEEE C37.20.7 Type 2B arc-resistant construction contains arc energy on all accessible sides, critical when crews are executing rapid PSPS switching sequences
•	SafeGear HD provides 63kA short-circuit capability. The highest level of personnel protection during volatile operating conditions

Advanced protection capabilities for PSPS coordination:
•	Relion® protection relays (REX615, REX640) enable sensitive earth-fault detection and high-impedance fault identification, detecting incipient faults before they become ignition sources
•	IEC 61850 and DNP3 communications support fast, coordinated switching for targeted de-energization
•	SCADA integration enables remote switching operations during PSPS events without exposing crews to field hazards

Underground Distribution: Elastimold® Cable Accessories for Fire-Prone Regions

When utilities convert overhead lines to underground distribution in high fire-threat districts, the cable accessories connecting those systems need to perform reliably for decades in demanding soil conditions, with minimal maintenance access.

Elastimold® separable connectors and power cable joints are the trusted choice for utilities executing undergrounding programs in fire-prone regions.


Utilities specify Elastimold® for wildfire-zone undergrounding:
•	Solid EPDM insulation provides proven dielectric performance in direct-buried and padmount applications
•	Maintenance-free design eliminates routine inspection requirements in remote, difficult-access terrain
•	Voltage ratings to 35 kV support a wide range of underground distribution configurations
•	Field-proven reliability with decades of installed base across North American utilities

For utilities in California, Colorado and other Western states accelerating undergrounding initiatives, Elastimold® cable accessories provide the connection reliability that underground systems demand.

Undergrounding is a long-term investment. Specify cable accessories engineered for the long term.

Elastimold® Underground Cable Accessories

Elastimold® Veri-Spike Grounding-aid Device

Q&A: Utility Safety Leader on Wildfire Protocols

We sat down with Harsh Karandikar – Ph.D., VP of Product Management and Robert Hale – Field Application Engineering Manager to discuss how utilities are evolving their wildfire mitigation strategies.

Q: What's changed most in utility wildfire response over the past five years?
A: The shift from reactive to proactive is dramatic. Five years ago, most utilities were focused on post-fire restoration. Today, the focus is prevention, system hardening, sensitive protection settings and operational protocols like PSPS. Regulators and insurers are demanding measurable risk reduction, and utilities are responding with data-driven investment strategies.

Q: How should utilities prioritize wildfire mitigation investments?
A: Start with risk mapping. Identify your highest-consequence corridors, areas where ignition probability and fire spread potential are both elevated. Then layer your defenses: undergrounding where feasible, enhanced vegetation management, sensitive protection settings and PSPS capability where other mitigations aren't practical. No single technology solves the problem.

Q: What role does equipment selection play in wildfire risk reduction?
A: A more important role than people realize. Protection relay settings that clear faults in milliseconds rather than seconds dramatically reduce fault energy and ignition probability. Vacuum circuit breaker technology eliminates the oil found in legacy switchgear, removing a potential fuel source from substations in fire-prone areas. And distribution automation enables precise PSPS execution without over-de-energizing. Equipment choices matter.

Q: In what ways does Elastimold® cable accessories enhance the safety of my system?
A: The dual-port elbow can enhance circuit safety by enabling the integration of products such as surge arresters, grounding aid devices and voltage sensors in areas where no port was previously available. This capability provides robust protection for both personnel and equipment against electrical surges and faults, without increasing the overall footprint of the installation. By incorporating these safety features, the dual-port elbow helps ensure a more secure and efficient operational environment.

Elastimold® Cable Accessories

Separable connectors and terminations for underground distribution applications.

View Product Details | Elastimold® cable accessories

SafeGear® / SafeGear® HD arc-resistant switchgear

Arc-resistant metal-clad switchgear for utility and industrial primary distribution.

View Product Details | SafeGear® / SafeGear® HD

UFES (Ultra-Fast Earthing Switch)

Highest level of safety for LV and MV systems against hazardous impacts of internal arc faults.

View Product Details | UFES

REX615 & REX640 Protection Relays

All-in-one protection for power generation and distribution applications.

View Product Details | REX615 / REX640

Whitepaper: 5 key areas to mitigate wildfire risk

Managing wildfire risk with electrification.

View Whitepaper | Wildfire paper