Consumers Energy Unveils Wildfire Safety Website to Protect Michigan Communities

Rhea-AI Summary

Consumers Energy has launched a new Wildfire Safety website to protect Michigan communities at the start of wildfire season in March 2025. The website is part of their wildfire risk mitigation plan introduced in 2024, the first of its kind in the Midwest.

Michigan faces significant wildfire challenges, experiencing 10,000-12,000 wildfires annually, with approximately 100 homes damaged yearly. In the past 12 years, the Lower Peninsula has seen 2,537 wildfires burning over 22,861 acres.

The company's enhanced mitigation strategies include:

• Prioritized line clearing in high-risk areas
• Enhanced weather monitoring and Red Flag Warning systems
• Wildfire risk assessments for field operations

These efforts complement their Reliability Roadmap, which reduced average customer power outage time by over 20 minutes last year. Consumers Energy serves 6.8 million residents across Michigan's 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

Positive

• Launched first-of-its-kind Midwest wildfire mitigation plan
• Achieved 20+ minute reduction in average power outage time
• Implementing enhanced grid protection and monitoring systems

Negative

• Increasing frequency and severity of wildfires pose growing risk to infrastructure
• Historical vulnerability to wildfires with three of nation's deadliest fires

JACKSON, Mich., March 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With the start of Michigan wildfire season in March, Consumers Energy is taking proactive steps to protect at-risk communities by launching a Wildfire Safety website.

This new website highlights key tactics from the wildfire risk mitigation plan, launched in 2024 and the first of its kind in the Midwest. The goal of the wildfire risk mitigation plan is to provide more reliable service to our neighbors while strengthening and protecting the grid against destructive wildfires. Providing an easily accessible resource, the website includes information on wildfire risks, Consumers Energy's mitigation efforts and emergency preparedness measures.

"Our priority is to protect Michigan communities by strengthening our electric grid and minimizing wildfire risks," said Greg Salisbury, vice president of electric distribution engineering for Consumers Energy. "This new website gives our neighbors the tools they need to stay informed and prepared while highlighting the extensive steps we're taking before, during and following any wildfire in our service territory."

Michigan experiences an average of 10,000 to 12,000 wildfires each year, most of which are small. However, even small fires can destroy homes and property, with an estimated 100 homes lost or damaged annually. Historically, Michigan has faced significant wildfire challenges with three of the deadliest fires in the nation. In the past 12 years alone, Michigan's Lower Peninsula has experienced 2,537 wildfires, burning more than 22,861 acres.

With changing weather patterns increasing the frequency and severity of wildfires, Consumers Energy is building onto the tactics outlined in the wildfire mitigation plan. These additions will enhance situational awareness, operational procedures, system strengthening and vegetation management to reduce wildfire ignition risks. Key efforts include:

• Prioritized line clearing in high-risk areas to limit vegetation contact with power lines.
• Enhanced monitoring utilizing weather data and Red Flag Warnings.
• Wildfire risk assessments to adjust field operations and recloser settings.

"Consumers Energy is committed to balancing reliable energy service with the safety of our neighbors and the environment," said Sara Stewart, Senior Manager of Forestry at Consumers Energy. "Our enhanced vegetation management efforts—like increased line clearing cycles—are a critical part of reducing wildfire risk and keeping communities safe."

By investing in wildfire mitigation strategies and providing resources for our neighbors, Consumers Energy aims to strengthen Michigan's electric grid. These investments will also build on last year's Reliability Roadmap efforts which made great progress by reducing the average time customers went without power by over 20 minutes.

Consumers Energy is Michigan's largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. Consumers Energy knows job number one is to keep the lights on for customers. We are committed to delivering reliable, clean, and affordable energy to our customers 24/7.

For more information about Consumers Energy, go to ConsumersEnergy.com.

Check out Consumers Energy on Social Media 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/consumersenergymichigan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/consumersenergy
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/consumersenergy  
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SOURCE Consumers Energy

FAQ

What are the key components of Consumers Energy's (CMS) 2024 wildfire mitigation plan?

The plan includes prioritized line clearing in high-risk areas, enhanced weather monitoring systems, and wildfire risk assessments for field operations and recloser settings.

How many wildfires does Michigan experience annually according to Consumers Energy's (CMS) data?

Michigan experiences 10,000 to 12,000 wildfires annually, mostly small-scale incidents, with approximately 100 homes damaged or lost each year.

What improvement in service reliability did Consumers Energy (CMS) achieve through their Reliability Roadmap in 2024?

The Reliability Roadmap efforts reduced the average time customers went without power by over 20 minutes.

How many customers does Consumers Energy (CMS) serve in Michigan's Lower Peninsula?

Consumers Energy serves 6.8 million of Michigan's 10 million residents across all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

What is the historical wildfire impact in Michigan's Lower Peninsula according to CMS data?

In the past 12 years, Michigan's Lower Peninsula has experienced 2,537 wildfires, burning more than 22,861 acres.