Updated Oct. 9, 2019 6:27 PM
Ahead of what forecasters are calling a widespread, severe wind event, public utility company Pacific Gas and Electric began shutting off power for more than 800,000 customers in Northern California on Wednesday.
The power outages, part of what the company calls a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), are taking place in three separate phases. The first wave went into effect around 12 a.m. Wednesday, affecting approximately 513,000 customers, while the second will take place at 12 p.m. Wednesday and affect around 234,000 customers. The third phase is still under consideration for the utility's southernmost service areas.
Hot and dry weather, along with strong, gusty winds and low humidity, served as the ingredients for the high fire danger in both Northern and Southern California. Red flag warnings indicating the threat of extreme fire danger were in effect for much of the Bay Area as well as around the Los Angeles and San Diego regions.
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Joseph Pokorski drinks a beer at The Town Square as downtown Sonoma, Calif., remains without power on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019. Pacific Gas and Electric has cut power to more than half a million customers in Northern California hoping to prevent wildfires during dry, windy weather throughout the region. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Fuels are critically dry across the territory, and most of the area is looking at very receptive conditions for large fire growth, Evan Duffey, a senior meteorologist with PG&E, said at a press conference Tuesday night.
"By all metrics, this is forecast to be the strongest offshore wind event since 2017," Duffey said.
Customers were being told to prepare for outages that could last several days by planning for medical needs such as medications that require refrigeration, stocking up on emergency supply kits to include flashlights and extra batteries and identifying backup charging methods for cellphones.
"The safety of our customers and the communities we serve is our most important responsibility, which is why PG&E has decided to turn power off to customers during this widespread, severe wind event. We understand the effects this event will have on our customers and appreciate the public's patience as we do what is necessary to keep our communities safe and reduce the risk of wildfire," Michael Lewis, PG&E's senior vice president of Electric Operations said in a statement.
Motorists were cautioned to treat all non-working intersections and signals as a four-way stop sign. Hospitals were expected to run on backup power, according to the Associated Press.
Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf urged residents to be prepared and told them not to clog 911 lines with non-emergency calls, according to the AP. Days off for Oakland police officers were canceled ahead of the outages.
“We all know the devastation that fires can cause,” she said.
Even those not directly impacted by the winds could lose their power, PG&E said.
"This is because the electric system relies on power lines working together to provide electricity across cities, counties and regions," officials said.
In Southern California, power shutoffs were being considered by Southern California Edison (SCE) due to the risk of Santa Ana winds. However, as of Wednesday morning, no decision had been made.
"We're closely monitoring weather conditions in our service territory and some cities are under consideration for Public Safety Power Shutoffs," officials said.
"A Santa Ana wind event is expected to take place over parts of the Desert Southwest with the strongest of winds occurring in the Southern California mountains," AccuWeather meteorologist Clay Chaney said.
"The AccuWeather Local StormMax is at 60 mph with most areas receiving between 30 and 50 mph gusts from the Northeast," he said.
So far in 2019, there have been 4,609 fires in California, which have burned 40,712 acres. The total acreage is down substantially from the same time period in 2018 when 4,900 wildfires burned 627,577 acres from Jan. 1, 2018, to Oct. 6, 2018.
One of the largest active blazes in the state is the Briceburg Fire, which has burned 3,600 acres and is 10% contained. The fire has been burning since Sunday in Mariposa County near Yosemite National Park.
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