Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

9 hours ago

‘Reservoir Dogs’ and ‘Kill Bill’ Actor Michael Madsen Dies at 67

10 hours ago

Eyeing Arctic Dominance, Trump Bill Earmarks $8.6 Billion for US Coast Guard Icebreakers

10 hours ago

Trump’s Sweeping Tax-Cut and Spending Bill Wins Congressional Approval

11 hours ago

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

14 hours ago

US Supreme Court to Decide Legality of Transgender School Sports Bans

15 hours ago

Nvidia Set to Become the World’s Most Valuable Company in History

15 hours ago

Poll: 41% in US ‘Extremely Proud’ to Be American, Near Historic Low

15 hours ago
Fire Erupts as Californians Hit With 2nd Round of Blackouts
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 years ago on
October 24, 2019

Share

GEYSERVILLE — A Northern California wildfire exploded in size early Thursday amid dangerous winds that prompted PG&E to impose electrical blackouts to prevent fires.
Authorities ordered the entire community of Geyserville to evacuate after the fire in the Sonoma County wine region north of San Francisco grew to more than 15 square miles. The town has about 900 residents and is a popular stop for wine country tourists.
The cause of the blaze wasn’t immediately known, but wildfire risk was extremely high as humidity levels plunged and winds gusted up to 70 mph. An Associated Press photographer saw three homes destroyed in the Jimtown area. There were no immediate reports of any injuries.
PG&E on Wednesday began rolling blackouts stretching from the Sierra foothills in the northeast to portions of the San Francisco Bay Area in a bid to keep the electrical grid from causing fires due to wind that can send power lines toppling, starting fires.
The blackouts impacted a half-million people — or nearly 180,000 customers — in 15 counties, and PG&E warned that a second round of outages could occur over the weekend when winds were forecast to return.
Hot and dry Santa Ana winds were expected to hit Southern California Thursday and Southern California Edison warned that it might black out about 308,000 customers — perhaps 750,000 people — depending on the forecast.

The Current Outages Will Last About 48 Hours

San Diego Gas & Electric warned of power shutoffs to about 24,000 customers.

“We understand the hardship caused by these shutoffs. But we also understand the heartbreak and devastation caused by catastrophic wildfires.” — PG&E CEO Bill Johnson
The utilities have said the blackouts are designed to keep winds that could gust to 60 mph or more from knocking branches into power lines or toppling them, sparking wildfires.
Electrical equipment was blamed for setting several fires in recent years that killed scores of people and burned thousands of homes.
“We understand the hardship caused by these shutoffs,” PG&E CEO Bill Johnson said. “But we also understand the heartbreak and devastation caused by catastrophic wildfires.”
The latest outage comes two weeks after PG&E shut down the power for several days to about 2 million people in northern and central California.
The current outages will last about 48 hours, the utility said. But its seven-day forecast shows a likelihood of another planned blackout across a much larger area. The timing wasn’t clear, but it could start as early as Saturday, when even heavier winds are expected to move through.
“This could be the strongest wind event of the season, unfortunately,” PG&E meteorologist Scott Strenfel said.
Strenfel called the current wind event a “California-wide phenomenon.”
Photo of firefighters near the Kincade Fire
Firefighters confer while battling the Kincade Fire near Geyserville, Calif., on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019. Portions of Northern California remain in the dark after Pacific Gas & Electric Co. cut power to prevent wildfires from sparking during dry and windy conditions. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Some of the Frustration Was Being Taken Out on PG&E Employee

The small city of Calistoga, in the Napa Valley, known for its hot springs and wineries, was among those hit by Wednesday’s outage.
“It’s very frustrating,” said Michael Dunsford, owner of the 18-room Calistoga Inn, which has rented two powerful generators for the month at a cost of $5,000. Like many, he felt the outages need to be better managed, better targeted and less expansive.

“Right now, we have no wind. Zero. I don’t even see a single leaf blowing. Did they really have to cut the power right now? When the wind picks up to 40 mph maybe that’s a good time to close the power.” — Michael Dunsford, owner of the 18-room Calistoga Inn
“Right now, we have no wind. Zero. I don’t even see a single leaf blowing. Did they really have to cut the power right now?” he said, shortly after the lights went out and he revved up the generators. “When the wind picks up to 40 mph maybe that’s a good time to close the power.”
“They’re not appreciating enough the impact this has on everybody,” he said about PG&E.
Some of the frustration was being taken out on PG&E employees, the company’s CEO said.
Johnson said a PG&E employee was the target of what appeared to be a deliberate attack in Glenn County. He said a projectile that may have come from a pellet gun hit the employee’s front window. The employee wasn’t hurt.
“There is no justification for this sort of violence,” Johnson said. “Wherever you see crews they are there to help you.”
Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore said PG&E was better this time about getting information to people who would be affected, but he was still astonished by the need to resort to large scale blackouts.
“I am a big believer in shutdowns to prevent fires. But the thing that erodes public trust is when it doesn’t make sense,” he said. “You say, ‘God, I know if we can put a man on the moon … we can manage a (power) grid.'”

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Fresno Crash Involving Unlicensed Teen Driver Sends Woman to Hospital

DON'T MISS

Madre Fire Burns More Than 52,000 Acres in San Luis Obispo County

DON'T MISS

RIP John Harris: Fresno County Rancher, Racehorse Breeder Was a Visionary Leader Who Leaves a ‘Profound Legacy’

DON'T MISS

Valadao, Costa Spar on What Passage of Trump’s Bill Means for Medicaid Recipients

DON'T MISS

US Military Says 200 Marines Being Sent to Support ICE in Florida

DON'T MISS

Boeing Secures $2.8 Billion US Satellite Contract

DON'T MISS

Kaweah Health Names Its New Chief Nurse. She’s From Texas

DON'T MISS

Clovis Police Say At-Risk Missing Woman Found Dead in Mariposa County

DON'T MISS

Over 100 Former Senior Officials Warn Against Planned Staff Cuts at US State Department

DON'T MISS

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

UP NEXT

Madre Fire Burns More Than 52,000 Acres in San Luis Obispo County

UP NEXT

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

UP NEXT

San Luis Obispo’s Madre Fire Grows to 35,000 Acres, More Evacuations Ordered

UP NEXT

Poll: 41% in US ‘Extremely Proud’ to Be American, Near Historic Low

UP NEXT

Poorest Americans Dealt Biggest Blow Under Senate Republican Tax Package

UP NEXT

CHP Officer Dies in Line of Duty After Medical Emergency While on Patrol

UP NEXT

Downtown Housing Could Rise in Many California Cities, but Barriers Remain

UP NEXT

Poll: Most Americans Say National Divide, Political Violence Threaten Democracy

UP NEXT

Trump Pulls Back 150 Guard Troops From Federal Duties in California

UP NEXT

California Republicans Send Message to Trump: Deport Criminals, Not Our Vital Workers

Valadao, Costa Spar on What Passage of Trump’s Bill Means for Medicaid Recipients

7 hours ago

US Military Says 200 Marines Being Sent to Support ICE in Florida

8 hours ago

Boeing Secures $2.8 Billion US Satellite Contract

8 hours ago

Kaweah Health Names Its New Chief Nurse. She’s From Texas

8 hours ago

Clovis Police Say At-Risk Missing Woman Found Dead in Mariposa County

8 hours ago

Over 100 Former Senior Officials Warn Against Planned Staff Cuts at US State Department

9 hours ago

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

9 hours ago

‘Reservoir Dogs’ and ‘Kill Bill’ Actor Michael Madsen Dies at 67

10 hours ago

Fresno Police Recover Some of the $40,000 in Fireworks Stolen From Bullard High Team

10 hours ago

Eyeing Arctic Dominance, Trump Bill Earmarks $8.6 Billion for US Coast Guard Icebreakers

10 hours ago

Fresno Crash Involving Unlicensed Teen Driver Sends Woman to Hospital

A two-vehicle collision sent a woman driving one of the vehicles to the hospital with a head injury Thursday afternoon in Fresno. Fresno pol...

6 hours ago

A crash causes a traffic jam in northwest Fresno on Thursday, July 3, 2025. (GV Wire/Paul Marshall)
6 hours ago

Fresno Crash Involving Unlicensed Teen Driver Sends Woman to Hospital

The Madre Fire near New Cuyama has burned 52,593 acres with 5% containment, prompting evacuation orders in several San Luis Obispo County zones as of Thursday, July 3, 2025, afternoon. (CalFire)
6 hours ago

Madre Fire Burns More Than 52,000 Acres in San Luis Obispo County

7 hours ago

RIP John Harris: Fresno County Rancher, Racehorse Breeder Was a Visionary Leader Who Leaves a ‘Profound Legacy’

7 hours ago

Valadao, Costa Spar on What Passage of Trump’s Bill Means for Medicaid Recipients

An ICE agent talks with migrants about their scheduled appointments with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Father’s Day, to learn about their immigration status, in Chicago, Illinois., U.S., June 15, 2025. (Reuters File)
8 hours ago

US Military Says 200 Marines Being Sent to Support ICE in Florida

Boeing logo and miniature satellite model are seen in this illustration taken, March 10, 2025. (Reuters File)
8 hours ago

Boeing Secures $2.8 Billion US Satellite Contract

8 hours ago

Kaweah Health Names Its New Chief Nurse. She’s From Texas

Clovis Police are searching for Pathmani Goonawardena, 82, who went missing nearly three weeks ago and was last seen driving a white Volvo near Copper and Auberry, possibly en route to Coarsegold. (CHP)
8 hours ago

Clovis Police Say At-Risk Missing Woman Found Dead in Mariposa County

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend