PG&E Donations to Mariposa Community Foundation, American Red Cross Will Help Local Agencies Serve Those Affected by the Oak Fire
Getting the lights back on is the priority, but ‘our love for the community goes deeper than our utility work,’ PG&E leader says
MARIPOSA, Calif. — To help Mariposa County customers affected by the ongoing Oak Fire, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has presented $90,000 to two organizations dedicated to helping with the recovery process.
A $50,000 contribution to the Mariposa Community Foundation will support wildfire relief efforts in the area and assist residents who were displaced by the fire, said Joshua Simes, vice president of PG&E’s Central Valley Region. The utility also provided $40,000 from the PG&E Red Cross Disaster Holding Fund to the Red Cross Northern California Coastal Region to support services for residents impacted by the ongoing Western wildfires.
“These donations reflect the dedication that PG&E has to our hometowns. Many of our coworkers responded to this fire and their families and friends live and work in the Mariposa area. And we all know the impact wildfires have on communities we serve,” said Simes.
PG&E crews are working to restore service to 730 customers affected by the fire.
Soon after the Oak Fire began, PG&E workers began planning how to repair damage from the fire and restore electric service to customers. On Thursday, there was approximately 250 PG&E personnel in the area to work on restoration, with hundreds more on the way as crews are ready to go to work as soon as they can safely access the burn area. At the same time, local PG&E coworkers responded to the event by working with the Mariposa Community Foundation and the Red Cross to assess the needs of the community and to determine the best ways the utility could help.
Mariposa Community Foundation President David Butler said that quick collaboration makes a difference during emergencies.
“We especially appreciate the timing of this donation to allow the Community Foundation to respond and assist those residents affected by the Oak Fire,” Butler said.
The partnership has been at the core of PG&Es relationship with the American Red Cross for many years. Hanna Malak, Regional CEO of the Red Cross Northern California Coastal Region, said the
partnership has helped the relief agency deliver critical disaster services to families and communities across California.
“Thanks to PG&E’s support, Red Cross teams can provide comfort and care when and where it is needed most,” Malak said.
For the PG&E team onsite leading the utility response, these partnerships also show how the company they work for helps their friends and neighbors in Mariposa recover from the fire.
“It’s one thing to help get the lights back on for our customers. It’s also important to show that our love for the community goes deeper than our utility work. When you live in a town like Mariposa, you learn that Mountain Strong is more than just a catchphrase. We’re proud to be here helping in any way we can. And we will be here until the work is done,” said Kyle Kupiec, PG&E Yosemite Division Superintendent and Deputy Incident Commander for the PG&E team responding to the Oak Fire.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 23,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com and www.pge.com/news.
