Boulder Creek, CA – As another severe weather system battered California, IBEW 1245 members from PG&E and Davey Trees hit the ground in the Santa Cruz mountains to assess the damage, repair power lines and restore power.
IBEW Local 1245 crews from PG&E and Davey Tree restore service to Boulder Creek, Calif. on December 16, 2024
Working sixteen-hour days, PG&E’s Los Padres crew battled steep, forested mountain sides, falling branches, and wet terrain.
“This is my third year doing this,” said Nate Alexander, a nine-year lineman journeyman heading up the crew. “Every time we come up here it’s one of my favorite areas to work. It’s not only a beautiful area, but there’s always a new tap line. The people here, they are resilient. You get some people out in the hills that don’t want you on their property, but for the most part, these people are very happy to see us.”
The crew navigated rain, road closures, and damage in the wake of the first ever recorded tornado to hit nearby Scotts Valley in Santa Cruz County. The National Weather Service categorized the twister as a EF1 or moderate.
“It’s always challenging here,” declared IBEW 1245 Business Representative Casey Salkauskas. “Our Santa Cruz members are stringing wires through the redwoods, with intermittent rain and heavy mist.”
Alexander concurred saying, “You have to worry about really tight corridors. You have a lot of falling hazards, whether it’s the tree falling or widow makers that are hanging in the tree.”
Katie Ryan, a second step Apprentice Lineman, works under Alexander. She enjoys the work and traveling. “I think it’s a pretty good way to get out and see other yards and how everyone else does everything,” she said.
As for the Union, Alexander shared, “When I first got in the trades, I started off non-union. I was never told about a union or what they could offer or the benefits they guarantee or the representation you have when you’re working against conditions that are unfair or unfit.” He added, “It’s a night and day difference. Between the camaraderie, the brotherhood that you have between each other and as a crew, the safety, the training, it’s a night and day difference.”
Ryan stated, “I don’t have a ton of experience so far, but It’s been great.”
PG&E Templeton GC Apprentice Katie Ryan, (right), and PG&E Templeton GC Foreman Nate Alexander.
IBEW Local 1245 Business Rep Casey Salkauskas.
PG&E Templeton GC Apprentice Katie Ryan.
PG&E Templeton GC Foreman Nate Alexander.