How a PG&E Partnership Solved a Longtime Critical Safety Gap in Lake County

For nearly 14 years, a critical gap in emergency communications has challenged Lake County, one of the most economically disadvantaged areas in PG&E’s service territory.

“Throughout eastern Lake County, there were dead spots where you couldn’t reach anyone from the outside world — no radio, no cell phone service. First responders battling wildfires or handling emergencies often found themselves incommunicado,” noted PG&E Public Safety Specialist Donovan Lee. “When you work in the field, communication is key, and in fire country, it’s an absolute imperative.”

The County recognized the danger and, after extensive research, identified the best solution: installing a communications vault and repeater on top of Goat Mountain. A repeater acts as a powerful signal booster, catching radio transmissions and broadcasting them over a much wider area, effectively casting a larger net of communication. After securing the necessary permits from the U.S. Forest Service and other agencies, the project hit a massive roadblock.

The communications vault itself was the challenge.

“This is not something that you can just put in the back of a pickup and haul up,” said Lee. The vault was incredibly large and heavy, and the rugged, unpaved roads leading to the summit of Goat Mountain were impassable for a vehicle carrying such a load. The only viable option was a helicopter, but the cost was far beyond what the county’s budget could support. For years, the project stalled.

But this summer, thanks to a unique collaboration between the County of Lake, Lake Count Fire Chiefs Association, USDA Forest Service, PJ Helicopters and PG&E, a solution that once seemed impossible was airlifted into place, promising a new era of safety for the region.

The turning point started during a fire in Lakeport in the summer of 2024. Ron Karlen, PG&E Public Safety Specialist, was on-site assisting with the incident. He struck up a conversation with the local fire chief, Willy Supina, who detailed the communication struggles and the long-dormant Goat Mountain project.

Karlen sprang into action. He brought the safety challenge to PG&E’s North Coast Region Vice President Dave Canny. The response was immediate and decisive.

“This was a great opportunity to support our first responder partners and address a clear safety gap impacting PG&E customers,” said Canny. “We delivered for our hometowns on multiple fronts.”

PG&E developed a plan. While the company couldn’t offer a free service, it could provide a PG&E helicopter at a discounted rate, which the County and the Lake County Fire Chiefs Association could collectively afford.

 After a few delays due to weather, the plan was set. In a last-minute twist, PG&E’s own helicopter was no longer an option, but the company honored its commitment by negotiating a discounted rate through longtime PG&E-partner PJ Helicopters, ensuring the project remained financially feasible.

The partnership was a natural fit.

“Looking at it from the PG&E perspective, our Public Safety and Safety and Infrastructure Protection Teams use those radio frequencies to get fire status and other critical information so we can move resources and respond during emergencies,” noted PG&E North Coast Regional Senior Manager Brian Gerving.  “It was a win-win for both of us from a business and safety perspective.”

On June 9, the plan became a reality. The vault was trucked to a nearby campground, where the helicopter carefully lifted the massive structure and transported it to the summit. A ground team made the arduous 2.5-hour journey to the top of Goat Mountain to meet the delivery and secure the installation.

For Lake County Fire Chief Willy Supina, who had been chasing this solution for over a decade, the moment was overwhelming.

“I can retire now. I can retire happy,” he said, overcome with emotion. “This is such a relief for me personally to complete this project. It was as good as the day that my kids were born.”

What had been a project stuck in limbo for over 12 years, hitting "dead end after dead end," was executed in just six months once the partnership with PG&E was formed. The new repeater is expected to be operational in the coming weeks, just in time for the peak of fire season. Once online, it will be operated by the Lake County Fire Department and will vastly improve emergency communication capabilities across at least four counties, enhancing safety and coordination for first responders and the communities they protect.