Strong Santa Ana winds blow through Southern California

LOS ANGELES — Strong Santa Ana winds blew through the mountains and foothills of Southern California on Friday, bringing high danger of wildfires and power shutoffs for thousands of residents in an effort to prevent ignitions caused by sparking utility lines.

At one point Southern California Edison cut power to more than 16,000 customers and was considering cuts to an additional 96,000. By early afternoon, about 15,800 were without power and possible cuts was reduced to just under 47,000.

The power shutoffs affected small portions of Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.

San Diego Gas & Electric put about 2,700 customers on notice for potential power cuts.

A gust hit 79 mph at Fremont Canyon in the Santa Ana Mountains early Friday, the NWS said.

The seasonal Santa Anas heighten fire danger with the combination of powerful gusts and very dry air that reduces the moisture in vegetation and makes it easier to burn.

The winds were expected to lessen during the day but persist into the weekend.

SACRAMENTO — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has appointed a new head of the state’s troubled recycling agency, who has pledged to overhaul its troubled bottle deposit system that has worsened during the pandemic.

Newsom appointed Rachel Wagoner, 46, a veteran legislative staffer and registered Democrat, to the job, which includes coordinating the state’s efforts to clean up from record-setting wildfires.

Wagoner will take over an agency struggling to respond to the recycling troubles. Many of California’s recycling centers, which are not owned or operated by the state, have closed in the past six years. Last year, RePlanet closed all 284 of its locations and laid off 750 workers.