Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

What’s Behind California’s Frozen Housing Market?

20 hours ago

Oil Prices Rise on Trade War Relief, US Pressure on Russia

21 hours ago

Marjorie Taylor Greene Is First Republican Lawmaker to Call Gaza Crisis a ‘Genocide’

23 hours ago

UK Will Recognize Palestinian Statehood in September, Barring Israel-Hamas Ceasefire

23 hours ago

Trump’s EPA to Repeal Core of Greenhouse Gas Rules in Major Deregulatory Move

24 hours ago

US Approval of Israel’s Gaza Offensive Drops to 32%, Poll Shows

1 day ago

Shooter in New York Skyscraper Left Note Blaming NFL for Brain Injury, Mayor Says

1 day ago

Trump Eyes Aug 1 Trade Deals as EU, China Talks Continue, US Commerce Chief Says

1 day ago

Trump Says Many Are Starving in Gaza, Vows to Set up Food Centers

2 days ago
PG&E Admits It May Have Ignited Sonoma Fire
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 years ago on
October 25, 2019

Share

LOS ANGELES — Pacific Gas & Electric admitted its electrical equipment may have ignited a ruinous wildfire spreading across the California wine country, despite blackouts imposed across the region to prevent blazes.
The disclosure came as firefighters simultaneously battled flames in both Northern and Southern California: the fire amid Sonoma County’s vineyards, and a wind-whipped blaze that destroyed homes near Los Angeles.
The fire near the Northern California town of Geyserville burned at least 49 buildings and 34 square miles and prompted evacuation orders for some 2,000 people.
It was whipped up by the strong winds that had prompted PG&E to impose sweeping blackouts affecting a half-million people in Northern and Central California. Power was restored to most people by Thursday evening, the utility said.
The power shut-offs were imposed after PG&E electrical equipment was blamed for several blazes in recent years that killed scores of people and burned thousands of homes.
However, PG&E said Thursday it didn’t de-energize a 230,000-volt transmission line near Geyserville that malfunctioned minutes before the fire erupted. The company reported finding a “broken jumper” wire on a transmission tower Wednesday night.

Photo of a resident covering his face as he is evacuated
A resident covers his face as he is evacuated as a wildfire approaches Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019, in Santa Clarita, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Firefighters on the Ground and in the Air Struggled to Protect Homes

PG&E CEO Bill Johnson said it was too soon to know if the faulty equipment ignited the fire. He said the tower had been inspected four times in the past two years and appeared to have been in excellent condition.
In shutting off the electricity, PG&E cut power to the distribution lines that supply homes, but not to its long-distance transmission lines.

“I’m literally seeing sticks and fire of what used to be our home.” — Alejandro Corrales
Meanwhile, more than 50,000 people were under evacuation orders in the Santa Clarita area north of Los Angeles as hot, dry Santa Ana winds howling at up to 50 mph drove the flames into neighborhoods. At least six homes were burned. No immediate injuries were reported.
Firefighters on the ground and in the air struggled to protect homes surrounded by trees and brush as the wind-driven fire there grew to 4,300 acres.
In some places, they failed. As hot embers flew, subdivision homes and rural ranch properties were damaged or destroyed in the Canyon Country area of Santa Clarita and in nearby Castaic.
Alejandro Corrales tearfully watched her home burn on a ridge in Canyon Country, taking with it her mother’s ashes, other belongings and possibly a pen full of pet sheep.
“I’m literally seeing sticks and fire of what used to be our home,” she told KCBS-TV.
Photo of firefighter in a ravaged home
A firefighter works the scene of a wildfire-ravaged home Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019, in Santa Clarita, Calif. Fast-growing fires across California have forced thousands of people to evacuate as dry winds and high heat feed the flames. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Some Residents Tried to Fight the Blaze With Garden Hoses

“Everything in the house is gone,” Corrales said. “The panels on one of the pens where we have some rescued sheep was too hot for my daughter to open, and so she couldn’t let them out. … So I’m probably sure that we lost them, too.”

“Everything in the house is gone. The panels on one of the pens where we have some rescued sheep was too hot for my daughter to open, and so she couldn’t let them out. … So I’m probably sure that we lost them, too.” — Alejandro Corrales
Some residents tried to fight the blaze with garden hoses. People rushed to rescue dozens of horses, donkeys, goats, a pig and an emu.
Officials said a firefighting helicopter was grounded after its windshield was damaged by a collision with a bird.
High winds were expected to continue through the morning and taper off by late afternoon. Southern California Edison, which shut off electricity to more than 31,000 customers on Thursday, was considering additional power cuts to more than 386,000.
The huge Los Angeles school district closed all its schools in the San Fernando Valley, citing poor air quality and other safety concerns.
While the high winds in Northern California had died down by Friday, they were expected to pick up over the weekend, with gusts of 40 to 60 mph in many places, and PG&E warned it may black out an even larger region.
PG&E chief meteorologist Scott Strenfel said Northern California could be in for the strongest offshore winds in years.

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

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Navpreet Singh

DON'T MISS

Tariff Revenues Hit Record $150 Billion Amid Trump’s Trade Talks, Fox Business Reports

DON'T MISS

White House Set to Unveil Closely Watched Crypto Policy Report

DON'T MISS

Warner or Conklin? Fresno State QB Battle Builds Ahead of Kansas Opener

DON'T MISS

Protein Bar Arms Race Is Waged on Store Shelves and Social Media

DON'T MISS

Israeli Minister Hints at Annexing Parts of Gaza

DON'T MISS

Russia Has Developed Immunity to Sanctions, Kremlin Says After Trump Tightens Ceasefire Deadline

DON'T MISS

Fed Likely to Hold Rates Steady Despite Trump’s Push for Big Cuts

DON'T MISS

California Under Tsunami Advisory After Magnitude 8.7 Earthquake

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Dies in DUI Crash, Driver Arrested

UP NEXT

As Trump Cuts Education, Candidates Line Up for California’s Top Schools Job

UP NEXT

What’s Behind California’s Frozen Housing Market?

UP NEXT

Marjorie Taylor Greene Is First Republican Lawmaker to Call Gaza Crisis a ‘Genocide’

UP NEXT

New Gallup Poll Reveals Most Immoral Behaviors In America

UP NEXT

What Does Trump Crackdown on Homelessness Mean for California?

UP NEXT

California Governor Candidate Stirs Outrage With Auschwitz ‘Unemployment Plan’ Post

UP NEXT

California May Soon Ban Selling New Glocks Like Kamala Harris Owns

UP NEXT

Trump Asks for Swift Deposition of Murdoch in Epstein Defamation Case

UP NEXT

California School Board Resigns After Audit Reveals $180M in Improper Funding

UP NEXT

NASA Says 20% of Workforce to Depart Space Agency

Warner or Conklin? Fresno State QB Battle Builds Ahead of Kansas Opener

1 hour ago

Protein Bar Arms Race Is Waged on Store Shelves and Social Media

1 hour ago

Israeli Minister Hints at Annexing Parts of Gaza

1 hour ago

Russia Has Developed Immunity to Sanctions, Kremlin Says After Trump Tightens Ceasefire Deadline

1 hour ago

Fed Likely to Hold Rates Steady Despite Trump’s Push for Big Cuts

1 hour ago

California Under Tsunami Advisory After Magnitude 8.7 Earthquake

16 hours ago

Fresno Man Dies in DUI Crash, Driver Arrested

16 hours ago

Madera County Wildfire Burns Near Fairmead, Containment at 0%

16 hours ago

Watch Twin Meteor Showers Reach Their Simultaneous Peak in Summer Skies

17 hours ago

New York Gunman Was Flagged by Security Camera System Before Attack, Sources Say

17 hours ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Navpreet Singh

July 30, 2025 Most Wanted Person of the Day Suspect Name: Navpreet Singh Suspects Date of Birth: November 22, 1997 Physical Description: Ind...

43 minutes ago

Navpreet Singh is Valley Crime Stoppers' Most Wanted Person of the Day for July 30, 2025. (Valley Crimes Stoppers)
43 minutes ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Navpreet Singh

President Donald Trump holds the key to the FIFA Club World Cup trophy in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 7, 2025. (Reuters File)
49 minutes ago

Tariff Revenues Hit Record $150 Billion Amid Trump’s Trade Talks, Fox Business Reports

Representations of cryptocurrencies are seen in this illustration created on August 10, 2022. (Reuters File)
54 minutes ago

White House Set to Unveil Closely Watched Crypto Policy Report

1 hour ago

Warner or Conklin? Fresno State QB Battle Builds Ahead of Kansas Opener

Image of the David Bar, Which Is High in Protein
1 hour ago

Protein Bar Arms Race Is Waged on Store Shelves and Social Media

Destroyed buildings lie in Gaza, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, July 28, 2025. (Reuters/Amir Cohen)
1 hour ago

Israeli Minister Hints at Annexing Parts of Gaza

Russian President Vladimir Putin gives a statement to the media at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia May 11, 2025. (Reuters File)
1 hour ago

Russia Has Developed Immunity to Sanctions, Kremlin Says After Trump Tightens Ceasefire Deadline

President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speak during a tour of the Federal Reserve Board building, which is currently undergoing renovations, in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 24, 2025. (Reuters File)
1 hour ago

Fed Likely to Hold Rates Steady Despite Trump’s Push for Big Cuts

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

Search

Send this to a friend