You’ve likely heard the warning: call 811 before you dig. Hearing it is one thing. Seeing why it matters is another. That’s why SDG&E teamed up with the City of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department to stage a fiery ignition demonstration at our Skills Training Center. What unfolds is a powerful visual of what can go wrong when underground utilities aren’t marked. 

Whether you're planting a tree or shrubs, installing a fence or mailbox, or breaking ground on a new development, underground utility lines — gas, electric, water, and more — could be inches below the surface. Striking one can lead to serious consequences, including fires, property damage, service outages and injuries. These incidents are largely preventable.