Pacific Gas & Electric Prepares for Heat Wave as San Francisco Fires Highlight Wildfire Risks

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is preparing its electric system and crews for an extended heat event across inland California from July 31 to August 7, 2026. Company meteorologists forecast peak temperatures of 102‑108 °F in the North Valley and Sierra Foothills and 104‑108 °F in the Central Valley, conditions that could dry vegetation and raise wildfire potential. PG&E is aligning staffing, pre‑positioning equipment, and maintaining fire‑suppression technology while urging customers to stay informed about possible outages.

On July 31, 2026, a fire broke out in an underground electrical vault at Haight and Cole streets in San Francisco’s Upper Haight, prompting a brief shelter‑in‑place order. PG&E assisted firefighters in securing the vault. Later that morning a one‑alarm house fire in Visitacion Valley displaced six residents; the San Francisco Fire Department rescued an adult and several pets, contained the blaze, and the Red Cross provided assistance. No injuries were reported.