PG&E helicopters to fly low over Sonoma, Mendocino counties

PG&E will use helicopters with foresters on board to identify drought-weakened trees near power lines.|
BILL SWINDELL
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Helicopters contracted by PG&E will fly around Sonoma and Mendocino counties on Wednesday and Thursday to check for drought-weakened trees near power lines.

The San Francisco-based power company said the helicopters, which will have foresters on board, will fly from about 200 to 300 feet above the ground between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

PG&E wants to identify trees that are vulnerable to falling into power lines, which it said can spark outages as well as wildfires.

In Sonoma County, flights will be over areas along Highway 116 and Valley Ford Road. That will include Bodega, Valley Ford, Bloomfield, Two Rock and Southern Sebastopol. They also will fly over Healdsburg, Kenwood and Glen Ellen, as well as Skaggs Springs Road and Annapolis Road over Annapolis.

In Mendocino County, flights will be along Highway 128, Boonville Ukiah Road and Flynn Creek Road. Residents in Boonville and Philo and the towns of Ingram, Yorkville, Soda Springs, Hendy Grove, Reilly Heights, Navarro and Comptche will likely see the helicopters.

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