Californiaâs Rare Winter Blackout Expands as Fire Threat Grows
By
January 19, 2021
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. workers prepare a power pole to replace one destroyed by the LNU Lightning Complex fire in Vacaville, California.
(Bloomberg) Utilities in California have cut power to nearly 30,000 homes and businesses to prevent live wires from sparking wildfires as high winds and usually warm temperatures leave the drought-weary state a potential tinderbox.
Edison Internationalâs Southern California Edison has shut off nearly 25,000 customers as gusts of up to 55 miles (88 kilometers) per hour batter the region and the high reaches 69 degrees Fahrenheit (21 Celsius). PG&E Corp. has switched off about 5,000 customers in the southern part of the stateâs Central Valley and Sierra Nevada foothills.
California’s Changing Climate Gives New Fuel to Fire Season Bloomberg 1/20/2021 Mark Chediak and Brian K. Sullivan
(Bloomberg) California’s changing climate has pushed fire season to new lengths, triggering once-rare winter blackouts.
State utilities cut power to more than 72,000 homes and businesses Tuesday in a preemptive effort to prevent live wires from sparking wildfires as Santa Ana winds threaten to fan flames. Blazes are breaking out nonetheless, including in Santa Cruz County, where two fires are prompting evacuations.
While the Santa Ana winds usually die off by November, they’re increasingly extending further into winter, underscoring how wild California’s weather has become as climate change drives extreme heat and drought. Last year, record temperatures took down large swaths of the state’s power grid and wildfires torched more acreage than ever before.
[LOS ANGELES] In an unprecedented move, California utilities are warning they may need to cut power to more than 280,000 homes and businesses to prevent live wires from sparking wildfires as high winds are set to sweep through the drought-weary state. Read more at The Business Times.
In an unprecedented move, California utilities are warning they may need to cut power to almost 300,000 homes and businesses to prevent live wires from sparking wildfires as high winds are set to sweep through the drought-weary state.