Wildfire Prevention Today and Tomorrow: PG&E Shares 2025 Wildfire Season Readiness Update, Showcases Local XPRIZE Wildfire Competitors
SAN RAMON, Calif., June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to monitor wildfire conditions and deploying proven layers of wildfire protection to prevent wildfires, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) shared its readiness ahead of peak wildfire season. These layers of protection helped prevent a major wildfire in 2023 and 2024.
Today, at PG&E's Applied Technology Services lab, the company's research and development facility, PG&E shared details about how the layers of protection are applied throughout PG&E's service area to prevent wildfires. PG&E was joined by representatives of XPRIZE Wildfire and two local teams – Ember Guard and Rain – who bring AI power and autonomous firefighting to the competition. PG&E is a proud sponsor of XPRIZE Wildfire and its work to build a pipeline of new technologies that support advanced wildfire mitigation, detection and response.
Today's Wildfire Resilience from Layers of Protection
Undergrounding Powerlines in high fire-risk areas to permanently eliminate ignition risk. PG&E has undergrounded approximately 915 miles of powerlines since 2021 and plans to have nearly 1,600 total miles of powerlines underground by the end of 2026.
Overhead System Upgrades include the installation of strengthened power poles and covered powerlines. This work reduces wildfire ignition risk by nearly 67% once completed. PG&E has completed more than 1,430 miles of overhead system upgrades since 2018 and plans to complete nearly 1,900 total miles of system upgrades by the end of 2026.
Situational Awareness Improvements including the deployment of a state-wide network of nearly 1,600 weather stations, of which 1,400 are artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning enabled, and more than 650 high-definition wildfire cameras. The AI enabled cameras process data and provide automated wildfire notifications.
Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings (EPSS) automatically turn off power within one-tenth of a second, or faster, if a wildfire hazard is detected. These settings protect 1.8 million PG&E customers in areas with elevated or extreme wildfire risk. In 2024, these settings contributed to more than a 65% reduction in reportable ignitions, compared to the 2018-2020 average. More than half of customers protected by EPSS did not experience a power outage while EPSS was enabled in 2024, and the average duration of outages on an EPSS-enabled circuit decreased 17% from the prior two-year average.
Vegetation Management programs continue to evolve using a data-driven, risk-informed approach to help reduce both outages and potential ignitions caused by vegetation contacting PG&E's equipment. Over the past five years, PG&E has inspected, trimmed or removed over 960,000 trees and other types of vegetation in our service area.
Drone inspections that more efficiently provide a bird's eye view of assets from the ground and air.
Public Safety Power Shutoffs are a last resort during extreme weather conditions to reduce the risk of catastrophic fire. PG&E's experienced meteorologists use cutting-edge weather models to forecast wildfire risk at a granular level to determine the transmission and distribution circuits that will get de-energized.
'Rather than being reactive to conditions, our wildfire work proactively protects and prevents wildfire. We're keeping our system safe while we build resilience for the future. This work is essential in light of extreme weather and extended wildfire seasons,' said PG&E Wildfire Mitigation Vice President Andy Abranches.
Tomorrow's XPRIZE Goal: Detect Earlier, Extinguish Faster
As wildfire conditions are dynamic from year to year, PG&E is committed to supporting a pipeline of new research, development and innovation to address climate-driven wildfire challenges. PG&E today joined XPRIZE Wildfire and two local teams participating in the four-year, $11 million competition to accelerate the speed of detection and suppression of destructive wildfires.
XPRIZE Wildfire encourages teams from around the world to innovate around a wide range of firefighting technologies across two complementary tracks designed to transform how potentially catastrophic fires are detected, managed and suppressed. PG&E is the co-title sponsor of XPRIZE Wildfire along with the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
'For 30 years, XPRIZE has spurred innovation to address the world's most pressing challenges. In 2023, we launched XPRIZE Wildfire with a goal to end destructive wildfires,' said XPRIZE Wildfire Program Director Andrea Santy. 'Today, we have an incredible global cohort of dozens of teams making monumental strides towards developing solutions to reach this audacious goal.'
One of the Bay Area teams showcased at the event was Palo Alto-based Ember Guard, a cross-disciplinary team led by Ahvish Roy, founder of ARX, and supported by Sangram Ganguly, Chief Technology Officer of Rhombus Power. It uses deep learning along with AI to produce a scalable cloud-based high-resolution wildfire model that forecasts the likely propagation and intensity of a wildfire so that firefighters can prioritize their limited resources
Also participating was Alameda-based Rain, which recently showcased autonomous wildfire suppression technology in California. A Black Hawk helicopter equipped with wildfire mission autonomy from Rain and MATRIX™ autonomy technology from Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, conducted a demonstration of a wide range of wildfire response missions and tasks, including finding and suppressing early-state wildfires, all commanded via tablet. Rain is a participant in the Electric Program Investment Charge program, a research and development project.
Learn more about PG&E's wildfire safety efforts at pge.com/wildfiresafety.
About PG&EPacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
27 minutes ago
- Borneo Post
Sabah launches eKahwin system to streamline Muslim marriage applications
Demonstration of the e-Perkahwinan portal. – Information Department photo KOTA KINABALU (Aug 15): The state government, through the Sabah Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAINS), has launched the eKahwin system to simplify the marriage application process for Muslim couples in Sabah. Sabah Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Datuk Mohd Arifin Arif, stated that since the implementation of the eKahwin system on August 1, 1,782 prospective couples have registered as users within one week. 'The eKahwin system demonstrates how JHEAINS leverages technology to serve the community without compromising Shariah law, administrative integrity, or human values,' he said. 'Applicants no longer need to queue or take time off work just to submit documents. Everything can be done at their fingertips, except for special cases requiring further scrutiny such as determining the wali (marriage guardian), verifying lineage status, or validating identification documents,' he announced at the launch ceremony of the eKahwin System and FPX Payment Platform today. He added that integrating the FPX platform enables fast, secure and transparent online payment of service fees while reducing cash transaction risks and delays. 'This system ensures marriage procedures are more organized, systematic and accountable. After the marriage solemnization is registered, couples will receive a valid digital marriage certificate before the physical copy is issued. Its authenticity can be verified via the e-Validator app,' he explained. 'The launch of eKahwin and FPX is just the beginning of digitizing Islamic services in Sabah. We must continue innovating, strengthening data security, addressing shortcomings and listening to public feedback. Our vision is clear: to position Sabah as a leading state in digital transformation for Islamic marriage management.' Meanwhile, JHEAINS director Datuk Jumain Abdul Ghani shared that Thalassemia screening — a mandatory requirement for marriage applications — is still under the department's review and planning. Also present were Sabah Islamic Religious Council (MUIS) chairman Datuk Seri Panglima Yahya Hussin and Sabah Baitulmal Corporation chairman Datuk Dr Omar Raisul Assalam Syah Sulaiman Omar.
Malaysian Reserve
an hour ago
- Malaysian Reserve
The All-New Cheddar Bacon Cheese Slider Highlights a New Variety Pack Available in Walmart Stores Nationwide
The flavor-packed Slider is available exclusively in the new 16-count Cheese Sliders Variety Pack COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — White Castle, America's first fast-food restaurant chain and the first restaurant brand to unite the worlds of fast-food and consumer package goods, is combining two favorites, bacon and cheese, to deliver one powerfully flavored brand-new Slider, the Cheddar Bacon Cheese Slider. The Cheddar Bacon Cheese Slider is made with 100% beef, steam-grilled onions, the signature steamy bun and for the very first time, a melty slice of cheddar flavored with real bacon pieces. According to Mintel's U.S. frozen snacks market report, consumers across the country continue to crave cheese in their frozen snack purchases, and this new Slider answers the demand. The new Cheddar Bacon Cheese Slider is available exclusively in the all-new 16 count Cheese Sliders Variety Pack. The new package features three distinctly craveable cheese-topped Slider varieties: 4 – New Cheddar Bacon Cheese Slider 6 – Jalapeño Cheese Sliders 6 – Classic Cheese Sliders The Cheese Sliders Variety Pack is available at Walmart stores and quickly rolling out to additional grocer's freezer aisles in the months ahead. 'With the new Cheddar Bacon Cheese Slider, we're serving up bold flavor with a crave-worthy twist,' said Jamie Richardson, vice president at White Castle. 'Exclusively available in our new 16-count Variety Pack, this new Cheddar Bacon Cheese Slider combines two fan favorites, cheese and bacon, to satisfy a full household of tastes whether you're snacking or feeding a family of Cravers. It's convenience, variety and flavor all packed into one freezer-friendly box.' About White Castle® White Castle, America's first fast-food hamburger chain, has been making hot and tasty Sliders since 1921. Based in Columbus, Ohio, the family-owned business owns and operates about 340 restaurants as well as a retail division providing its famous fare in freezer aisles of retail stores nationwide. As part of its commitment to offering the highest quality products, White Castle owns and operates its own Slider Provider meat plants, bakeries and frozen-Slider retail plants. White Castle has earned numerous accolades over the years including Time magazine's 'Most Influential Burger of All Time' (2014, The Original Slider®) and Thrillist's 'Best Plant-Based Fast-Food Burger' (2019, Impossible™ Slider). In 2021, Fast Company named the fast-food pioneer one of the '10 Most Innovative Dining Companies.' White Castle is known for the legendary engagement of its team members and has received the Great Place to Work® Certification™ for an extraordinary five consecutive years spanning 2021–2025. White Castle is beloved by its passionate fans (Cravers), many of whom compete each year for entry into the Cravers Hall of Fame. The official White Castle app makes it easy for Cravers to sign up for the CRAVER NATION REWARDS™ loyalty program, access sweet deals and place pickup orders at any time. For more information on White Castle and how to Follow Your Crave, visit
Malaysian Reserve
an hour ago
- Malaysian Reserve
Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Tapes Market worth $92.41 billion by 2030
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Aug. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The report 'Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Tapes Market by Type (Single-Sided, Double-Sided), Adhesive Type (Acrylic, Rubber), Technology (Solvent, Hot-Melt, Water-Based), Backing (PP, Paper), End-use Industry (Medical & Hygiene), and Region – Global Forecast to 2030′, pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes market size was USD 70.30 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 92.41 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 4.64%, between 2025 and 2030. Browse in-depth TOC on 'Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Tapes Market' 300 – Tables60 – Figures280 – Pages Download PDF Brochure: For healthcare, the materials used need to be safe and clean, yet comfortable to wear on the skin. Pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes are embedded in numerous medical products, such as wound dressings, wearable devices, and surgical tools. They must adhere well but be gentle enough to pull off without damaging the skin. With more patients treated at home and wearing health monitors, these tapes are becoming even more significant in this healthcare sector. They are typically used in medical devices like continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), electrocardiogram (ECG) patches, and transdermal drug delivery systems. The adhesives should be reliable under movement, moisture, sweat, and changing skin conditions while maintaining breathability and comfort for the patient. For wound care, pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes are employed to hold bandages and sophisticated dressings in place, with ease of removal and less trauma, particularly for older or sensitive patients. This makes pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes a more critical element in patient care and contemporary healthcare technology. The silicone segment is projected to be the fastest-growing segment in the pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes market during the forecast period. The silicone adhesive segment is expected to have the highest CAGR in the pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes market during the forecast period, growth that can be explained by its unparalleled performance in extreme temperature environments. This unique performance has made silicone-based pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes indispensable in high-reliability market segments such as aerospace, electronics, and automotive under-the-hood applications. Unlike acrylic or rubber adhesives, silicones stay pliable and functional under heat stress, never hardening, melting, or degrading. Their stability results in a long lifespan in engine compartments, industrial ovens, HVAC systems, and airplane components, which are constantly subjected to variable or high temperatures. As end users put more emphasis on reliability under extreme conditions, silicone adhesives are rapidly becoming the go-to choice for high-specification thermal applications. Their ability to drive down failure rates in temperature-sensitive environments has generated increased use in both mission-critical and new thermal management applications. Request Sample Pages: Hot-melt-based technology is projected to witness the highest CAGR in the pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes market during the forecast period. During the forecast period, the hot-melt technology segment will be the fastest-growing segment in the pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes market. This rapid growth will be driven in large part by the increasing shift to environmentally responsible adhesive technologies. Unlike solvent-based adhesives, hot-melt-based pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes are solvent-free systems, which means no volatile organic compounds are released by the adhesive during application, making it a safer and more sustainable adhesive option for manufacturers. The solvent-free nature of hot-melt adhesives allows manufacturers to conform to tightening environmental regulations and pursue their corporate sustainability objectives, while the performance of their adhesives is not sacrificed. The need for green, compliant, and low-emission materials to be used in packaging, labeling, and consumer goods applications is resulting in increased interest in hot-melt-based technologies over traditional methods. The consumer segment is projected to witness the highest CAGR in the pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes market during the forecast period. The consumer segment was the fastest-growing section of the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape market between 2025 and 2030. The growth is due to the changing lifestyle patterns in decorative and event-based applications. Today's consumers are spending more of their time and money on seasonal decorations, party supplies, and home organization, where pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes provide ease and aesthetics. Removable wall hooks, LED light strips, gift-wrapping types, and party decoration kits all represent a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape formulation that produces a balance between adhesion and clean removability. The rising popularity of temporary but reliable bonds for special occasions (birthdays, weddings, festivities) has led to the emergence of specialty tape containing glitter, pattern, or transparent finish that creates quick setup and takedown without causing rip-cuts or surface damage, especially in rental properties and shared spaces. Thus, the increasing personalized and customized orientation of living spaces, conditioned by visual culture and social media, has expanded consumer-based tape uses and possibilities. North America was the second-largest pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes market in terms of value, in 2024. In 2024, North America was the second-largest pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes market in terms of value. North America is home to many of the world's best-known pressure-sensitive adhesive tape companies, such as 3M, Avery Dennison, Intertape Polymer Group, and Scapa Group. All these companies have a long history of R&D, product innovation, and custom/individual application, which further solidifies North America's position. Each of these companies has a full product line that addresses several markets, including electronics, construction, healthcare and medical, packaging, and aerospace. These companies are operating modern manufacturing facilities with global supply chains, which support quality and on-time delivery. Coupled with strong brand equity and distribution networks that facilitate deep penetration in the US, Canada, and Mexico, these firms exhibit strong customer loyalty. The presence of global organizations generates healthy competition, which allows smaller firms and startups to create a friendly competitive atmosphere, including innovative products for niche applications, such as biodegradable tapes or printable surfaces. These benefits allow North America to provide mature manufacturing and innovation capabilities, which can be utilized for global quality standards of PSA tapes in both demand and export markets. Request Customization: The key players profiled in the report include 3M Company (US), Tesa SE (Germany), Nitto Denko Corporation (Japan), LINTEC Corporation (Japan), Intertape Polymer Group, Inc. (Canada), Avery Dennison Corporation (US), Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), Berry Global Group, Inc. (US), Scapa Group plc (Mativ Holdings) (US), Saint-Gobain S.A. (France) and others. Get access to the latest updates on Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Tapes Companies and Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive Tapes Market Size Browse Adjacent Market: Coatings Adhesives Sealants and Elastomers Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Adhesive Tapes Market – Global Forecast to 2030 Structural Adhesives Market – Global Forecast to 2029 Self-Adhesive Labels Market – Global Forecast to 2028 Adhesives & Sealants Market – Global Forecast to 2029 Cyanoacrylate Adhesives Market – Global Forecast to 2029 About MarketsandMarkets™ MarketsandMarkets™ has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets™ is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines – TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies – helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore™ (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact:Mr. Rohan SalgarkarMarketsandMarkets™ INC.1615 South Congress 103, Delray Beach, FL 33445USA: +1-888-600-6441Email: sales@ Our Website: Logo: View original content:
