Avista began vegetation management operations in wildfire-affected areas this weekend, removing fire-damaged trees and vegetation near power lines and utility infrastructure across North Idaho.
The work, which started Saturday, August 9, addresses hazards created by recent fires that scorched large portions of Bonner County. Fire-damaged trees can become structurally unstable over time despite initially appearing intact, creating risks to residents, first responders, contractors, and utility workers.
Elizabeth Frederiksen, Avista’s wildfire resiliency and system operations director, told the Bonner County Daily Bee the effort serves multiple safety objectives. “This work allows us to identify and remove fire-damaged trees and vegetation that could pose a risk to people, emergency responders, power lines and other utility equipment,” she told the utility company.
Wright Tree Service and Asplundh Tree Expert, LLC are conducting the removal operations, with Core Tree—an Asplundh subsidiary—providing equipment support. The scope of work encompasses areas affected by recent wildfires that have burned thousands of acres across the region.
The cleanup initiative reflects broader efforts to stabilize North Idaho’s fire-damaged landscape and restore utility system resilience after major fire incidents that required intensive containment operations.
What Comes Next
Avista has not announced a completion timeline for the vegetation management work. Property owners in affected areas should expect continued crew activity as the utility completes hazard removal near power infrastructure.