Fire prevention is a growing infrastructure challenge, particularly in high-risk areas like Big Cottonwood Canyon. With steep terrain, flammable vegetation, and only one road for evacuation, the canyon is vulnerable to fast-moving wildfires sparked by natural events or aging electrical systems.
That’s why Jackson Infrastructure Services, in partnership with Rocky Mountain Power, is taking bold steps to modernize power delivery and reduce the risks tied to overhead lines.
This project sets a new standard for utility safety in wildfire-prone regions through advanced underground power line installation, protective conduit systems, and smart weather monitoring technology.
This blog will explore the dangers of outdated infrastructure, how undergrounding works, and more.
Big Cottonwood Canyon’s fire vulnerability
Big Cottonwood Canyon is one of Utah’s many iconic natural spaces, but it’s also one of the state’s most vulnerable when it comes to wildfire risk.
With steep terrain, dense vegetation, and a single winding road in and out (SR-190), the canyon faces unique challenges in fire prevention and emergency response. High winds funnel through the canyon during late summer and fall, drying out already flammable vegetation and increasing the likelihood of rapid fire spread.
The canyon’s limited evacuation route compounds the danger. In a fast-moving wildfire, congestion along the narrow roadway could slow down or block evacuation efforts, putting lives at risk. That’s why proactive fire mitigation in Big Cottonwood Canyon isn’t optional — it’s critical.
One of the primary contributors to wildfire ignition in mountainous areas is the presence of overhead power lines. Exposed power lines can spark fires when they fall due to wind, snow, accidents, or when they come into contact with trees and dry brush.
These risks in an environmentally sensitive canyon like Big Cottonwood demand serious infrastructure upgrades to prevent fires.
Risks of overhead power lines
Overhead power lines have long been a standard method for electrical distribution, especially in mountainous and rural regions.
However, in areas like Big Cottonwood Canyon, these systems present serious risks to public safety and wildfire prevention efforts. With high winds, dry vegetation, and steep terrain, the potential for disaster gets amplified by the presence of above-ground lines.
Sparking from fallen lines
One of the most direct wildfire threats is when power lines fall during windstorms, snow buildup, or falling tree limbs.
When these energized lines come into contact with the ground or nearby vegetation, they can easily ignite wildfires, particularly during dry seasons when fuels are abundant. These ignitions have been responsible for some of the most destructive fires in Western states.
Vegetation contact
Even without falling, overhead lines pose fire risks when they come into contact with overgrown trees or vegetation. A single spark from a line brushing against a dry branch can trigger a fast-moving fire, particularly in tight canyons where heat and flames will travel quickly upslope.
Regular vegetation management helps, but isn’t always enough, especially in remote or hard-to-access areas.
Wind-related failures
Canyon environments, such as Big Cottonwood, often experience sudden, strong wind gusts. These conditions may cause lines to sway, arc, or collide with nearby structures or other wires. Mechanical stress may also lead to pole collapse or wire breakage, increasing the chance of sparking and wildfire ignition.
Weather-driven degradation
Over time, exposure to sun, snow, rain, and ice wears down the hardware used in overhead power line installation. Corroded components or sagging wires increase the likelihood of malfunction, particularly under high load or stress conditions. These small failures, if unnoticed, escalate into serious safety hazards.
Undergrounding solution: partnership with Rocky Mountain Power
To address the growing wildfire risk in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Jackson Infrastructure Services partnered with Rocky Mountain Power on a large-scale fire prevention project centered around undergrounding power lines.
This initiative is a proactive response to years of concern about the safety of overhead lines in high-risk wildfire zones. It involves installing 35 miles of underground conduit systems throughout the canyon instead of relying on exposed, above-ground wires.
These conduits protect electrical infrastructure from wind damage, falling debris, and wildfire ignition, creating a safer and more resilient power distribution network.
Protective coatings for added resilience
Jackson Infrastructure is installing conduits reinforced with protective coatings engineered to withstand ground shifts, moisture, and corrosion.
These advanced materials ensure long-term durability while reducing the need for disruptive future maintenance. This is critical in remote, mountainous terrain where repairs are time-consuming and costly.
Smart integration with weather monitoring
Alongside the undergrounding effort, the project includes installing advanced weather stations throughout the canyon. These stations monitor temperature, wind speed, and humidity in real-time, providing data that supports predictive fire modeling and allows Rocky Mountain Power to take preventive action when conditions become dangerous.
Execution in challenging terrain
Underground power line installation in Big Cottonwood Canyon is no small feat. The project requires strategic trenching and boring through rock-heavy soil and steep terrain while minimizing impact on the natural environment.
Jackson Infrastructure’s experience in utility construction and complex field execution makes it uniquely qualified to lead a project of this scale and sensitivity.
Jackson Infrastructure Services: Leading fire-resilient development
At Jackson Infrastructure Services, we take pride in leading the charge on utility projects that protect people, preserve natural landscapes, and support long-term community resilience.
Our work in Big Cottonwood Canyon is a powerful example of what our team can accomplish when fire prevention is the top priority.
With our extensive experience in power line installation, underground conduit systems, and dry utility infrastructure, we’re helping to reshape how power gets delivered in one of Utah’s most fire-sensitive regions.
We’re not merely installing equipment; we’re building systems that last. Our crews work closely with Rocky Mountain Power, local officials, and environmental specialists to ensure that every foot of conduit, weather station, and underground connection meets the highest safety and performance standards.
This is a model for how forward-thinking infrastructure makes a real impact. By moving power lines underground and using advanced materials and monitoring systems, we’re significantly reducing fire risks, improving grid reliability, and setting the groundwork for smarter, more sustainable power distribution.
We’re proud to be making Big Cottonwood Canyon safer for residents, recreationists, and future generations — and we’re ready to bring that same level of innovation and commitment to communities across the Mountain West.For more information or to work with us on your next project, visit our website.
