California power shutoffs start as Santa Ana winds arrive

Tens of thousands of Californians were left without electricity Thursday as utilities moved to cut power amid hot, windy conditions that could topple lines and ignite wildfires. In Northern California, nearly 62,000 customers across 26 counties in the Sierra Nevada foothills, wine country and the central coast had no power, according to Pacific Gas and Electric Company, which began proactively shutting off service Wednesday night. An additional 19,000 customers in Los Angeles, Kern and Ventura counties lost electricity Thursday, Southern California Edison reported. Weather conditions that raise fire risk were forecast to persist through Saturday. Some of California’s most destructive wildfires have been traced to power equipment, prompting utilities in recent years to implement pre‑emptive outages during dry, windy periods to reduce ignition threats. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said she’s directed the fire department to deploy personnel and equipment ahead of the winds. The fire department has also requested assistance from the state’s office of emergency services, she said. Dry, warm and gusty northeast winds known as Santa Anas, which flow from the interior of Southern California toward the coast and offshore, are expected, with the strongest winds forecast for Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon. The winds could reach 20 to 40 mph (32 to 64 kph), with gusts from 50 to 70 mph (80 to 113 kph), in the San Gabriel mountains of Los Angeles County and the Santa Susana mountains, which lie mostly in Ventura County. Elevated, though brief, critical fire weather conditions are also projected for portions of the Santa Lucia mountains in San Luis Obispo County. Dangerous conditions emerged earlier in Northern California, with some communities in the Sierra Nevada and its foothills experiencing strong winds, high temperatures and low humidity starting Wednesday night. Pacific Gas and Electric Company said Thursday it has notified 90,000 customers in 29 counties that they may lose power. The potential interruption in service to customers stretching from the Central Coast to the upper corners of the Sierra Nevada could last through Saturday afternoon, the company noted. In Southern California, the Red Flag Warning for the mountainous areas of Ventura and Los Angeles counties will be in effect from Thursday morning through Friday night. Los Angeles Fire Chief Jaime Moore said, ‘We are augmenting our staffing, positioning our people and pre-deploying equipment ahead of this weather so we are ready before the first call comes in. We are asking residents to do their part, too. Clear the streets, have a plan and stay informed.’ Sources: Las Vegas Sun Read the full story at Las Vegas Review-Journal →