Sixteen Pacific Power crew members from Grants Pass, Medford, Bend, Portland and Yreka, California, are working behind active fire areas near Santa Rosa, California, to help Pacific Gas & Electric restore electricity, the company stated in a news release.

Over the next two weeks, the crews will help rebuild the area’s distribution system by putting in poles, stringing transmission line and reconnecting customers to the power. The crew consists of 12 linemen, two foremen, a manager and a mechanic. The crew departed Friday for a base camp outside Santa Rosa from which it will be deployed as needed, according to Pacific Power.

A foreman and four other crew members were sent from Bend, said Tom Gauntt, spokesman for Pacific Power, on Wednesday. The crews may prolong their stay depending on how much help the local utility needs, he said.

“They’re making pretty good progress,” he said. “If you can imagine, it’s an immense task.”

— Editor’s note: This story has been updated from the original.