Thousands of Southern California residents remain in the dark Friday after Edison International switched off the power on Thanksgiving Day to reduce the risk of wildfire.
Almost 9,000 customers north and east of Los Angeles were without power as of 5:20 a.m. local time, and with strong winds continuing to buffet the region, the utility is considering expanding the blackout to more than 100,000 homes and businesses.
Fire warnings in the Los Angeles and Ventura mountains, as well as the Santa Clarita and Ventura valleys, will remain in effect through 6 p.m. Saturday.
A Santa Ana wind storm is raking across the region with winds reaching 65 miles (105 kilometers) per hour in the mountains, according to the National Weather Service.
Widespread elevated and critical fire weather conditions are expected today/tomorrow in southern California. Increasing offshore winds this evening through Friday will support warm dry and windy conditions conducive to fire spread. Please see https://t.co/jURH2pWvlY for more info pic.twitter.com/Io2AwLQNVe
— NWS Storm Prediction Center (@NWSSPC) November 26, 2020
The outages could spread as the wind storm moves south across the state. Sempra Energy’s San Diego-area utility warned it was considering shutting off power to 2,700 homes and businesses, or about 8,000 people, starting early Friday.
Almost all of California remains either abnormally dry or in drought, according to the United States Drought Monitor website.
Winter rains have begun in Northern California but have barely touched the south, leaving grass, shrubs and trees vulnerable to wildfires.
The state’s record-breaking fire season has already scorched 4.2 million acres and killed 31 people this year.
Some of the deadliest blazes in California history have been sparked by power lines falling or tangling with tree branches, and utilities have taken to cutting electricity service during high winds to reduce the risk of sparking more.
Yes, the wildfire season continues in Southern California and that’s no good news. More on Yahoo, Strange Sounds and Steve Quayle.
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These demons will keep hurting people until people stop them, the fire issue is a settled fact the energy cut offs are part of the attack people need to face what this is and deal with it directly.
If you read history including the american Indian you will find that even they back burned and clear forests of fuel for hundreds of years it is just normal. But when you give voice to absurdity you suffer the curse of stupidity.
I was fortunate to see most of the USA before it was destroyed.
Newsom spending the state’s money on gender-confused bathrooms instead of forest management.
?
Getty, Newsome, Piglosi, Brown family cartels. They are criminals.
Indeed, they belong behind bars – or, better yet – in GITMO.
The main issue. They don’t cut the dead brush, and trees. Used to be done. Especially in fire prone canyons. Not anymore. It’s cheaper to burn it down, and get federal money to squander.
The cutting power off is pretty third world. I think the tyrants see themselves as royalty, and they hate the serfs/ taxpayers.
yes! This is another problem… Cleaning forest is a must!
Every year the Satan-ana Winds blow, and fires ravage the homes. The idiots in power keep doing the same stupid crap expecting different results.
Fires spread in canyon areas rapidly, as winds intensify through canyons. I remember the fire department would come by and check people’s land. They would issue a brush clearance notice to residents with brush and debris too close to the residential structure. 60s-70s era.
Don’t worry, antifa will start some fires, like last time. Then the politicians will get more disaster relief money.