Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
High Winds Prompt PG&E to Shut Power to 25,000 in California
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 2 years ago on
October 12, 2021

Share

SAN FRANCISCO — Pacific Gas & Electric began shutting off power to about 25,000 customers in central and northern California Monday and Southern California Edison warned it may do the same for up to 9,000 of its customers as high winds toppled trees, downed power lines and ignited fires that forced people to flee from their homes.

At least a half dozen mostly small fires broke out across the state, challenging firefighters as they tried to contain the blazes amid the blustering wind.

West of Santa Barbara, authorities ordered the mandatory evacuation of campsites, cattle and horse ranches near Refugio State Beach and shut U.S. 101 — the only highway along the coast — as winds pushed a fire that started in the Los Padres National Forest toward the beach, U.S. Forest Service spokesman Andrew Madsen said.

The fire was driven through dense chaparral by winds gusting to 70 mph. It had grown to at least 4.5 square miles by nightfall and threatened perhaps 100 homes, ranches and other buildings, authorities said.

About 200 firefighters were battling the flames and trying to protect homes and buildings but aircraft couldn’t help because they were grounded by the high winds, fire officials said.

Firefighters in Fresno Rescue 3 From Home After Fallen Treen

In the San Joaquin Valley, a grass fire north of Madera prompted evacuations east of State Route 99. Meanwhile, firefighters in Fresno rescued three people trapped in their home after a tree fell on it.

California already has seen massive fires this year, including one that may have burned hundreds of giant sequoias in groves in Sequoia National Park in the Sierra Nevada. On Monday, a firefighter with a hand crew working on the blaze was struck by a falling rock. The firefighter was airlifted to a hospital and is in stable condition, fire officials said.

Forecasters issued a red flag warning for extreme fire danger from gusty winds. The warning extends until late Tuesday. The strongest winds are expected most of Monday, said Hannah Chandler-Cooley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sacramento.

The planned outages are necessary because high winds, combined with low humidity and drought-ravaged vegetation, could raise the risk of trees falling on power lines and spark a fast-spreading wildfire, PG&E said in a statement. Heat waves and historic drought tied to climate change have made wildfires harder to fight in California and the rest of the U.S. West.

Toppled Trees Spark Fires, Damaging Homes

On the Central Coast, a tree fell onto power lines at Hearst San Simeon State Park, sparking a small fire in the brush, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection tweeted.

Winds were expected to pick up Monday afternoon to evening in Southern California, with projected gusts of 50 to 70 mph. SoCal Edison began turning off power to a customers in parts of Los Angele and Ventura counties to reduce the threat of wildfires.

The National Weather Service said blowing dust was widespread from the Sacramento Valley, across the San Joaquin Valley and into the high desert Antelope Valley north of Los Angeles. Caltrans said sections of State Route 138 near the Antelope Valley city of Lancaster and State Route 14 were shut down because of the dust storm and several overturned trucks blocking the roadway.

Strong winds knocked down a tree, destroying three parked cars and damaging a home in the coastal town of El Granada, in San Mateo County, CalFire said.

No one was injured, but photos from the scene showed the tree also took down power lines.

PG&E Says Power Expected Tuesday

PG&E said it expects to begin restoring power Tuesday afternoon.

The utility began intentionally shutting off power in the fall of 2019 to prevent wildfires, after an investigation determined the Camp Fire that wiped out most of the town of Paradise was sparked by its equipment. The company filed for bankruptcy and pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter related to the 2018 fire.

PG&E also faces numerous criminal charges for fires caused by its fraying equipment, including involuntary manslaughter charges filed last month in connection to a wildfire near the city of Redding last year that killed four people.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

You Might Spot a Mountain Lion in California, But Attacks Like the One That Killed a Man Are Rare

DON'T MISS

California Democratic Lawmakers Seek Ways to Combat Retail Theft While Keeping Progressive Policy

DON'T MISS

California Wants to Pay Doctors More Money to See Medicaid Patients

DON'T MISS

State Farm Won’t Be There. It’s Dropping 72,000 Home Policies in California

DON'T MISS

California Tribe That Lost 90% of Land During Gold Rush to Get Site to Serve as Gateway to Redwoods

DON'T MISS

Ohtani and Dodgers Rally to Beat Padres 5-2 in Season Opener, First MLB Game in South Korea

DON'T MISS

Unique IndyCar All-Star Race Is This Weekend Near Palm Springs

DON'T MISS

Blake Snell and San Francisco Giants Agree to $62 Million, 2-Year Contract, AP Source Says

DON'T MISS

Reddit is Preparing to Sell Shares to the Public. Here’s What You Need to Know

DON'T MISS

The 49ers Have Been Docked a 2025 Fifth-Round Draft Pick for an Accounting Error

No data was found

Facebook News Tab Will Soon Be Unavailable as Meta Scales Back News and Political Content

7 hours ago

Stock Market Today: Wall Street Rises to More Records to Close Out Its Latest Winning Month

7 hours ago

A Fresno County First: Kerman Council Passes Amended Gaza Cease-Fire Resolution

7 hours ago

UN Top Court Orders Israel to Open More Land Crossings for Aid into Gaza

7 hours ago

How Involved Is Southern California Consulting Firm in FUSD Executive Dealings?

8 hours ago

Biden’s Fundraiser with Obama and Clinton Nets a Record $25 Million, His Campaign Says

8 hours ago

Fresno Unified’s Self-Protection Racket Is Hurting Our Kids

9 hours ago

Rockin’ Out or Laughing, the Valley Has Its Pick of Weekend Events

9 hours ago

Ex-Correctional Officer at Women’s Prison in California Sentenced for Sexually Abusing Inmates

12 hours ago

Caitlin Clark and Iowa Draw Nearly 5 Million Viewers for Second-Round NCAA Win

12 hours ago

PGA HOPE at Riverside Golf Course Introduces Military Veterans to the Game

PGA HOPE, now underway at Fresno’s Riverside Golf Course, is designed to introduce golf to veterans and active duty military members t...

5 hours ago

PGA HOPE at Fresno's Riverside Golf Course
5 hours ago

PGA HOPE at Riverside Golf Course Introduces Military Veterans to the Game

7 hours ago

Cronenworth’s Big Hit Helps Lift the Padres to a 6-4 Win Over Melvin’s Giants

7 hours ago

Shohei Ohtani Reaches 3 Times in Home Debut as the Dodgers Rout the Cardinals 7-1

7 hours ago

Facebook News Tab Will Soon Be Unavailable as Meta Scales Back News and Political Content

7 hours ago

Stock Market Today: Wall Street Rises to More Records to Close Out Its Latest Winning Month

7 hours ago

A Fresno County First: Kerman Council Passes Amended Gaza Cease-Fire Resolution

7 hours ago

UN Top Court Orders Israel to Open More Land Crossings for Aid into Gaza

8 hours ago

How Involved Is Southern California Consulting Firm in FUSD Executive Dealings?

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend