PNM encourages customers to take action now to prepare for wildfire season

By PNM

New Mexicans are all too familiar with our dry weather and the heightened concern it creates around the potential for wildfires. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has proclaimed March 28 through April 3 as Wildfire Awareness Week in New Mexico. Reducing the chances for wildfires is an important effort, statewide, and PNM has some helpful tips to keep you and your family safe.

• Help us reach you during an emergency. Take a minute to make sure your email, phone number and mailing address are current in your PNM account. You can update your information in your account online, call 888-DIAL-PNM, or chat live with a PNM representative on PNM.com, M-F, 7:30am – 6:00pm.
• Keep dry leaves and debris swept away from outdoor lighting, outlets, and power cords.
• Keep grass and weeds growing around power poles and under power lines trimmed back.
• Clean up dried leaves and grasses that accumulate in your yard, and clear gutters and other places that may collect debris. They could catch fire and spread quickly.
• When planting new trees, be careful not to put them near power lines. The larger the tree, the farther away it should be planted from a power line.
• Put together an emergency supply kit and have a family plan in case of a power outage and/or emergency. For additional information on these kits Ready.gov is a great resource.
• Ensure that all family members in your home have the contact information of a common friend/relative outside the area in which you live. This friend or relative can act as a focal point for your family in case you accidentally get separated.
• Sign up for emergency alert notifications through your county or other local resource. Sign up for wildfire updates on the New Mexico Fire Information website.

PNM takes wildfire mitigation very seriously and we work year-round to minimize the risk of wildfires. After carefully studying industry best practices we completed an extensive Wildfire Mitigation Plan in 2020, which will help us further mitigate wildfire risks and respond to any potential future wildfires. Safety is the highest priority, and we work closely with first responders and land management agencies to prevent and respond to wildfires. We routinely inspect and trim trees that can come into contact with power lines, and we work with tree trimming contractors who are trained in wildfire mitigation efforts and skilled in recognizing the signs of a potential wildfire threat.

Visit PNM.com/wildfire-safety for more information.

About PNM

With headquarters in Albuquerque, PNM is the largest electricity provider in New Mexico, serving 530,000 customers in dozens of communities across the state. PNM is a subsidiary of PNM Resources, an energy holding company also headquartered in Albuquerque. For more information, visit www.PNM.com.