California braces for wildfire threat amid high winds, power shutoffs
Utilities plan preemptive power outages for thousands of customers as dry, gusty conditions raise fire risk across the state.
Large parts of California are facing a heightened wildfire threat starting Thursday, with thousands of residents potentially losing power as utility companies implement preemptive shutoffs. Hot and windy conditions, exacerbated by dry air, are expected to persist through Saturday.
Dry, warm, and gusty northeast winds, known as Santa Anas, are forecast to blow from the state's interior toward the coast. The strongest winds are anticipated from Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon, with speeds ranging from 20 to 40 mph and gusts reaching 50 to 70 mph in mountain areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Similar critical fire weather conditions are also expected in portions of San Luis Obispo County.
In Northern California, communities in the Sierra Nevada foothills began experiencing strong winds, high temperatures, and low humidity starting Wednesday night. The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for parts of central and Northern California from Thursday through Friday morning, indicating conditions conducive to rapid fire spread.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has notified approximately 88,000 customers in 29 counties of potential Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) to mitigate the risk of wind-blown fires caused by downed power lines. Some customers began experiencing these outages by Wednesday night, and the interruptions could extend through Saturday afternoon.
Southern California Edison is also considering PSPS for up to 245,000 customers across Kern, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Tulare, and Ventura counties. Ventura County accounts for the largest portion of these potential shutoffs, with 124,000 customers affected.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stated that the city's fire department has been directed to deploy additional personnel and equipment in anticipation of the wind event. The department has also requested assistance from the state's office of emergency services. "It’s a pretty widespread event of elevated fire weather, so the whole SoCal region should really be on alert,” said Rose Schoenfeld, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
Los Angeles Fire Chief Jaime Moore emphasized preparedness, stating, "We are augmenting our staffing, positioning our people and pre-deploying equipment ahead of this weather so we are ready before the first call comes in." He urged residents to prepare by clearing flammable materials and having a plan.
The current conditions recall the deadly wildfires of early 2025, which were fanned by Santa Ana winds. The Palisades Fire, for example, resulted in fatalities and destroyed numerous homes. However, meteorologists note that the anticipated wind speeds are not expected to be as extreme as those recorded during those previous events.