Payson Roundup

After a worker accidentally sawed into his foot with a chain saw while clearing brush under Arizona Public Service power lines March 11, APS announced work will continue under the lines to meet industry vegetation standards.

Angel Abalo, 31, of Phoenix, was clearing brush with 20 other crew members from the Asplundh Tree Expert Company south of Payson on Forest Road 208 when he accidentally sawed his foot.

APS says vegetation management crews will continue work in the Tonto National Forest to ensure safety along the 345,000-volt transmission line that runs from Preacher Canyon northeast to the top of the Rim.

APS vegetation management and its contractors will be clearing vegetation from the right-of-way corridor in order to bring the area into compliance with industry vegetation standards.

This work will be completed using a combination of hand and mower crews.

Trees that grow into APS power lines threaten the company’s ability to provide safe, reliable and uninterrupted service for customers.

APS remains proactive in managing vegetation that grows near power lines, not just to ensure reliable electricity, but to also ensure the safety of the public and of APS employees.

The company’s clearing and managing vegetation process is responsibly aligned with safety and the environment.

It is the goal of APS to allow trees and power lines to coexist through careful vegetation management practices.

APS, Arizona’s largest and longest-serving electricity utility, serves about 1.1 million customers in 11 of the state’s 15 counties.