Helicopters Upgrade Santa Barbara's Electric Infrastructure

Southern California Edison uses aerial operations to install fire-resistant poles and cables in the hills.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Residents in the Riviera neighborhood of Santa Barbara's hills were temporarily evacuated from their homes on Friday, February 13, as Southern California Edison (SCE) used helicopters to install five fire-resistant utility poles and cover conductor cables to mitigate the risk of sparks and wildfires in the area. The upgrades caused temporary outages for 21 SCE customers and required 61 residential addresses to evacuate during the active helicopter operations.

Why it matters

The narrow and curvy roads in the Riviera hills make it difficult for SCE to bring in the large equipment needed for these electrical infrastructure upgrades. Using helicopters allows the utility to access these hard-to-reach areas and improve fire safety and reliability in the community.

The details

SCE has conducted helicopter-based operations for electrical maintenance and construction since 1959. The utility has its own fleet of aerial support equipment, including helicopters and drones, that can help transport crews and equipment to remote locations. For the Riviera neighborhood upgrades, SCE used two contracted helicopters that took off from and refueled at the Santa Barbara Airport. The new fire-resistant utility poles and covered conductor cables are designed to significantly reduce the risk of sparks and wildfires.

  • On Friday, February 13, residents in the Riviera neighborhood were temporarily evacuated from their homes.
  • The helicopter operations and electrical upgrades were completed by the end of the day on Friday, February 13.

The players

Southern California Edison (SCE)

A major electric utility company that provides power to customers across Southern California.

David Eisenhauer

A communications advisor with Southern California Edison.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The reason we're doing it here in the hills of Santa Barbara is because it's really difficult, if not impossible, to get the equipment and the cranes we need in there.”

— David Eisenhauer, Communications Advisor, Southern California Edison (independent.com)

What’s next

The upgrades will help prevent the risk of fire and lead to fewer public safety power shutoffs in the Riviera neighborhood in the future.

The takeaway

By using helicopters to access hard-to-reach areas, Southern California Edison was able to install critical fire-resistant electrical infrastructure upgrades in the hills of Santa Barbara, improving safety and reliability for residents in the community.