Kern GC Crews doing fire restoration work in Pacific Palisades, 1-18-25
Los Angeles – As the recent catastrophic Southern California wildfires are being contained, over 200 IBEW local 1245 members have been on site assisting with mutual aid. This includes members from Gas, Electric, System Infrastructure Protection (SIP) and Shared Services.
Working night and day, seven days a week, these men and women have been providing critical support on both Southern California Edison (SCE), and Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) properties since the onset of the devastating fires on January 7, 2025.
SIP members were the first to arrive. Crews were comprised of 25 two-man engines that worked outside the fire lines to treat infrastructure for both utilities.
Rosie Smith, A SIP Technician out of PG&E’s Angels Camp, stated, “The job is protecting poles, protecting any infrastructure that LADWP owns…so that it takes away fuel for the fire….We’ve fought fires for many years where we’re trained and prepared.” She added, “For me, my biggest highlight is getting to actually work with everyone within the program, and the camaraderie.”
SIPT from Central Division (Sonora, Angels Camp & Jackson)
Gas Service Representatives (GSR) and Fleet Mechanics from Shared Services were also on the ground. GSRs, helped ensure that infrastructure was safe to repressure, and then checked appliances before designating them operational. Mason Hamann, a GSR out of PG&E’s Stockton Yard reported, “We are just doing our best to hit every house and restore gas to as many customers as we can.”
Two General Construction (GC) Line workgroups remain in So Cal to do some heavy lifting. Five crews from Los Padres are working on SCE property in support of the Eaton Fire in Altadena. The crews are replacing poles, reconductoring, and cutting over a circuit from 4KV to 16KV. They are working 16-hour days, yet their enthusiasm has not waned.
Apprentice Journeyman Lineman James Negranti hired onto PG&E in 2020 and brought extensive experience working in fire zones in Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa for a month at a time. “But it’s been quite a while since an event like this. I mean, this is kind of out of the ordinary. But definitely nice to come answer the call,” he said.
SCE Tailboard with Crew Foremen Working Eaton Fire, Santa Anita Ops Tent, 1-23-25
The Bakersfield crews are working on LADWP property, supporting restoration efforts from the Palisades Fire. “I’ve been on many fires. This one…everything is destroyed,” declared Kevin Lodien, a Journeyman Lineman and Foreman out of PG&E’s Bakersfield GC yard.
One of their jobs is replacing 200 dual transmission circuit poles (with dual distribution circuits). Many poles are inaccessible to large trucks, and require helicopter sets.
Much like the other work groups, the camaraderie amongst the 15 members was impressive, especially considering the blend of linemen coming from outside line contractors or SCE, before being hired by PG&E.
When asked what some of the biggest challenges have been, several work groups answered, “The way the locals drive is insane. We aren’t used to the impatience people have for our large vehicles.”
Most importantly, there have been no safety incidents from this work group who have been in LA since the All Clear was given by LAFD.
GSR Reggie Cabreros checks gas meter in Pacific Palisades
Many of these crews include IBEW 1245 members who were recently in Georgia and Florida for mutual aid. They are proud of their trade, and equally proud of being IBEW1245 members.
“This is my first fire large outage,” declared Mason Hamann, a Gas Service Representative out of the PG&E Stockton Yard, noting “[It’s] definitely real sad to see the homes destroyed, all the things destroyed, but definitely brings joy to me to be able to restore the customers that we can,” he added.
As for the Union’s role, “They support us a lot. They fight for us,” added Hamann.
We at IBEW 1245 are proud of the safe work our members are exhibiting in So Ca, once again proving we represent some of the best in the trade.
– Bob Gerstle, Senior Assistant Business Manager; Photos by John Storey & Crew Members
SIPT from Central Division (Sonora, Angels Camp & Jackson)
Zach Avilla, SIP Lead from Central Division (Sonora, Angels Camp, Jackson)
SIP Crew from Central Division (Sonora, Angels Camp, Jackson)
Team crew removing brush
SIP Tech Rosie Smith working LA Fires
Kern GC Crews doing fire restoration work in Pacific Palisades, 1-18-25
Foreman Michael Lodien doing fire restoration work in Pacific Palisades, CA
Kern Crews do fire restoration in Pacific Palisades, CA
GSR Reggie Cabreros checks gas meter in Pacific Palisades
PG&E Kern GC crews do fire restoration in Pacific Palisades, Calif. on January 19, 2025.
Apprentice Lineman James Negranti, PG&E Los Padres GC Crews do fire restoration in Altadena, CA 1-18-25
PG&E Los Padres Crews doing Fire Restoration in Altadena, CA 1-18-25
Los Padres Crews doing fire restoration in Altadena
SCE Tailboard with Crew Foremen Working Eaton Fire, Santa Anita Ops Tent, 1-23-25