New evacuations, power outages near California wildfire
National Weather Service warns of ‘historic’ wind event
SAN FRANCISCO — Authorities ordered at least 50,000 residents to evacuate towns near a massive Northern California wildfire Saturday, and the state’s largest utility announced power shut-offs for about 2.35 million people due to forecasts of severe winds and extreme fire danger.
Two previous electricity shut-offs in recent weeks were carried out amid concern that gusty winds could disrupt or knock down power lines and spark wildfires.
Some gusts this weekend might reach 75 mph or higher as part of an “historic” wind event, the National Weather Service warned.
Pacific Gas & Electric said a new wave of blackouts would be implemented in stages through Saturday afternoon and evening, affecting about 940,000 homes and businesses in 36 counties for 48 hours or longer. San Francisco was spared, but shut-offs were ordered for most of the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area, the wine country to the north and the Sierra foothills.
The Healdsburg and Windsor communities were ordered to evacuate ahead of the strong winds. The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said it would be the biggest evacuation in the county in more than 25 years.
“The winds are expected anywhere between 8 p.m. and midnight, and from all reports, they’re expected to be extremely strong,” said Brian Vitorelo with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
A blaze Thursday destroyed at least six houses in the Santa Clarita area near Los Angeles and led to evacuation orders for up to 50,000 residents, although most were allowed home after Santa Ana winds began to ease. The Tick Fire was 25% contained.
To the north, firefighters raced to contain a blaze near Geyserville in Sonoma County before ferocious “diablo winds” returned. The Kincade Fire had burned 49 buildings, including 21 homes, and swept through nearly 40 square miles of the wine-growing region. It was 10% contained by Saturday morning.