Pipeline operator Kinder Morgan Inc. (KMI.N) announced that two of its fuel pipelines in Los Angeles have been shut down since January 8 due to power outages caused by ongoing wildfires, which remain uncontained and are among the most destructive in the city’s history. Despite the disruptions, the company stated that the pipelines themselves are not directly impacted by the fires and will resume operations once power is restored.

The affected pipelines include the 515-mile SFPP West pipeline and the 566-mile CALNEV pipeline. SFPP West transports fuel from the Los Angeles Basin to Colton and Imperial, California, as well as Phoenix, Arizona. Meanwhile, the CALNEV pipeline delivers gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel from Colton, California, to terminals in Barstow, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada. According to Kinder Morgan’s website, both pipelines play a critical role in regional fuel supply chains.

The shutdowns come as California grapples with widespread power outages, with more than 300,000 customers left without electricity as of Thursday, based on data from utility provider Southern California Edison. However, the wildfires have not directly caused any refinery outages in the state, and California refineries reported approximately 5.2 million barrels of CARB-compliant gasoline in stockpiles as of January 3, according to the California Energy Commission.

While the situation remains challenging, the availability of gasoline stockpiles provides some relief to concerns about immediate supply disruptions. The wildfires, however, have highlighted the vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure to natural disasters, prompting discussions about the need for greater resilience in energy and utility networks.

Kinder Morgan’s announcement underscores the importance of maintaining secure and reliable energy transportation systems, especially during emergencies. Both the SFPP West and CALNEV pipelines serve as vital conduits for fuel distribution, supporting essential services and economic activity in California, Nevada, and Arizona. The company has assured that operations will resume promptly once electricity is restored, minimizing prolonged disruptions to fuel supply in the region.

As California continues to battle these devastating wildfires, officials and utility companies are working to contain the blazes and restore power to affected areas. The fires have not only disrupted infrastructure but also posed significant risks to communities and the environment, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive wildfire management and disaster preparedness strategies.

Moving forward, energy companies and policymakers may need to evaluate the lessons learned from this crisis to enhance infrastructure resilience and safeguard critical systems against future natural disasters.