By Mary O’KEEFE

There have been recent concerns about tree trimming in the foothill communities by Southern California Edison. Some residents in areas like Altadena have shared concerns that their trees had been trimmed in an extreme method leaving the branches bare.

“We have always done vegetation management,” said David Guzman, manager with the Vegetation Dept. of SCE.

The company has contracted with tree services to cut branches and limbs near electrical wires. The difference this year is new requirements by the state that recommends a trimming clearance of 12 feet from power lines, as opposed to the past recommendation of six feet. These are new requirements for areas at high risk for fire.

“Ninety percent of La Crescenta is [considered] high fire area,” he said.

He added the SCE approach to the trimming is based on public safety and service reliability. Guzman said he had received some complaints about tree trimming in areas like Altadena but not many from those residents on whose property the trees are located. He added that some of the complaints had been directed at SCE when the trees had actually been trimmed by Los Angeles County crews during regular maintenance.

Guzman said those working for SCE follow guidelines including guidelines of working with residents whose trees are to be trimmed.

“We will do pre-inspections of the [trees],” he said.

How a resident is notified of what work will be done is determined by the amount of work that needs to be completed, whether the trees require heavy or light trimming. If a limb needs to be trimmed seven inches in diameter the inspector will leave a door hanger at the residence and arrange for a meeting. At the meeting the resident will have to sign off to have the tree trimmed. If the resident does not sign off, the safety situation still exists and SCE will work further with the resident to make certain the trimming is taken care of. If the trimming is done on a limb that is less than seven inches in diameter, the resident will be notified by a door hanger; no meeting is required.

Residents with oak trees are aware that permits are required for any trimming over six inches; SCE does not have to get those permits if it is determined it needs to be cut due to safety concerns.

“Oaks and conifer owners will also get a notification consultant if the trimming requires going beyond the old cuts [where cuts have been made in the past by SCE],” Guzman said.

SCE tree trimming has begun in the Crescenta Valley area.

According to a report by Ventura County Fire, SCE power lines allegedly sparked the Thomas Fire. Officials with the State of California have been working on wildfire management prompting more requirements in the areas of prevention.

SCE has a program, Right Tree Right Place, which encourages property owners not to plant trees that will grow into power lines. The brochure is available online at www.sce.com.

  Mary Okeefe