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4 Environmental Analysis 4.18 Wildfire IMPACT 4.18-2: Due to slope, prevailing winds, and other factors, would the project exacerbate wildfire risks, and thereby expose project occupants to, pollutant concentrations from a wildfire or the uncontrolled spread of wildlife? (Less than Significant Impact) Construction and Decommissioning During Project construction and decommissioning, the primary fire hazards would be heat or sparks from vehicles and construction equipment. These hazards could potentially ignite dry vegetation at the Project site, especially during the warmer, dry months between June and October. Additionally, construction activities, such as welding and grinding, could generate sparks that would increase the likelihood of ignition. Thus, depending on the time of year and location of construction activities at the Project site, there could be a temporary increase in exacerbated fire risk in the area due to these other factors. However, California Department of Industrial Relations Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) Title 8 Regulations include Subchapter 4, Construction Safety Orders,Article 36, Fire Protection and Prevention,which contains standard practices to minimize the potential for fires during construction. The Project would adhere to all applicable fire protection and prevention measures to limit the potential for fires during construction. Combustible vegetation or agricultural products on and around the Project boundary would be actively managed by the Project owner or its affiliates during both the construction and decommissioning phases of the Project to minimize fire risk. Combustible products would be either limited in height or removed. Additionally, the Project would include firebreaks around the site boundary in the form of access roads subject to County standards. While the Project site is located in an area with some rolling hills, and winds could exacerbate a potential fire under certain weather conditions, the Project would be constructed on a single terrace and would not be expected to affect wind patterns. Most importantly, the Project would not include any occupants who could be exposed to wildfire risks. Construction and decommissioning workers would be working on-site during respective phases of the Project, but construction and decommissioning would be short-term in nature and upon completion, the Project site would not include any permanent workers or occupants. Therefore, the Project would not expose Project occupants to pollutant concentrations from a wildfire or the uncontrolled spread of wildfire due to slope, prevailing winds, or other factors, and no significant impact would occur during construction and decommissioning. Operation The Project would include a BESS and other supporting electrical equipment elements that may be susceptible to fire. Project operations and maintenance (O&M) may introduce potential ignition sources, such as transformers, inverters, electric transmission line (including the gen-tie line), substations, maintenance vehicles, gas/electric-powered machinery, and batteries. However, the potential fire risk is low for these Project components. All battery components for the BESS would be installed on concrete pads and contained within an enclosure to minimize the potential for sparks or ignition. Fire detection measures would be incorporated in the Project design in accordance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) safety standards. Prior to operations,the Applicant would meet with the appropriate local fire departments to provide a tour of the site, including review of access points and major Project components; review the Griffith Energy Storage Project 4.18-14 Tetra Tech/SCH 2022120675 Draft Environmental Impact Report August 2023