Extreme Wildfire Risks Boosting Southern California Blackouts

Extreme Wildfire Risks Boosting Southern California Blackouts

(Bloomberg) -- Southern California utilities have cut power to about 56,000 customers and are warning 327,000 more could face blackouts as the region struggles with extreme winds over the next 24 hours.

Edison International shut off 38,000 customers as of 8 a.m. local time and warned that it may black out 304,000 more homes and businesses. Sempra Energy cut off 18,000 customers, and said another 23,000 could be affected. Wind gusts as high as 80 miles (129 kilometers) per hour are forecast for Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

Meanwhile, an evacuation order affecting about 20,000 people living in some of Los Angeles’s wealthiest neighborhoods remained in place for a third day as the result of the still-raging Getty Fire that’s spread to more than 650 acres since it erupted Monday. The blaze was only 15% contained as of 7 p.m. local time Tuesday, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

“Conditions are as dangerous for fire growth and behavior as we have seen in recent history,” Margaret Stewart, a department spokeswoman, said in an update late Tuesday.

The mandatory evacuation order covers more than 7,000 homes in an area bounded by Mulholland Drive, the 405 Freeway, Sunset Boulevard and Temescal Canyon Road, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a briefing Tuesday. Thousands more were under an evacuation warning, meaning they should be prepared to leave within minutes.

©2019 Bloomberg L.P.

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