PG&E Corporation cut off power to about 195,000 people across Northern California amid intense heat, dry weather and a second round of strong winds. Blaze still erupted, triggering evacuations and burning thousands of acres.
As temperatures soared to more than 90
degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) on Sunday, PG&E - the utility's
giant temple that went bankrupt last year - was seon fire by its explosive
equipment. Was, which started a shutdown by the end of which parts of 16
counties will be out of power. Monday. The National Weather Service has warned
that the risk of wildfires in the region will continue to rise late Saturday
evening and continue until Monday.
"The combination of wind, low
humidity and hot weather will result in severe fires," the weather service
said. Temperatures in some parts of Southern California were forecast’ to reach
105 degrees Celsius on Thursday.
This is the latest setback for the state,
which has been hit’ hard this year by climate change and the resulting severe
weather. Last month, a scorching heat wave triggered the first power outage in
California since the 2001 energy crisis - and just three weeks later. This
year, more than 8,000 forest fires in the state have burned a record 3.7
million acres, smoldering cities, killing at least 26 people and destroying
more than 7,000 structures.
In Napa County, a glass fire broke out
Sunday morning and erupted uncontrollably, burning at least 2,500 acres. In
Shasta County, the Zoo Fire burned 7,000 acres. Both signaled evacuation.
Butt County also ordered the immediate
evacuation of some communities on Sunday due to the ongoing fire in the North
Complex.
Utilities in the western United States are
increasingly cutting off electricity before hurricanes to reduce the chances of
their live wires burning. In Southern California, investigators are looking at
a power line owned by Edison International's Southern California Edison as part
of an investigation into a mountain fire near Los Angeles.
San Diego Gas & Electric of Sampra
Energy said Sunday that the expected arrival of Santa Ana winds would cause
power outages for 700 consumers in the mountainous areas of San Diego County.
The latest round of PG&E will affect
approximately 65,000 California homes and businesses, or approximately 195,000
people based on the average California household. The first cuts began early
Sunday. PG&E said in the briefing that the second phase was planned’ at the
end of the night. The company said all customers should regain power by the end
of the day on Monday.
The closure is much smaller in scope than
previous ones. Earlier this month, PG&E cut off power to about 172,000
homes and businesses - or about 51,516,000 - in California due to strong winds.
PG&E went bankrupt in July after settling 25 25.5 billion in wildfire
claims.
California's wildfire season traditionally
runs from September to November. But in recent years it has become longer and
less predictable, with Blaise arriving in late December.
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