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| California wildfires: 100,000 evacuated in the south as power returns to north – live | California wildfires: 100,000 evacuated in the south as power returns to north – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| There are now reports of another brush fire in southern California in El Sereno, about 25 miles southeast of the Sylmar fire: | |
| El Sereno brush fire has grown to 20 acres and is threatening an unknown number of homes. Updated story coming https://t.co/pDfCiQx18Y | |
| This new fire has grown to about 20 acres | |
| BREAKING: Brush fire burning in L.A.'s El Sereno area has grown to 20 acres and is threatening homes. This is about 25 miles southeast of the #SaddleridgeFire https://t.co/Xdy74jmzGl | |
| Responders are working to stop the fire from hitting threatened homes with water-dropping helicopters. This fire began around 11:30am local time. From the LA fire department: | |
| Update #BrushFire; INC#0929; 2:00PM; 2839 N Eastern Av; https://t.co/vN5oa8dFdG; #ElSereno; This is a terrain driven fire (no heavy winds) that moved into heavy brush and now estimated at 20 acres. Firefighters continue to work ... https://t.co/VN126GqO8A | |
| Northern California fire officials say a man dependent on oxygen died roughly 12 minutes after PG&E shut down power to the area, the AP reports. | Northern California fire officials say a man dependent on oxygen died roughly 12 minutes after PG&E shut down power to the area, the AP reports. |
| El Dorado county’s fire chief, Lloyd Ogan, said fire personnel responded to a call in Pollock Pines that came in after 3:30am Wednesday. He said crews arrived to find an unresponsive man in his 60s and were unable to revive him. | El Dorado county’s fire chief, Lloyd Ogan, said fire personnel responded to a call in Pollock Pines that came in after 3:30am Wednesday. He said crews arrived to find an unresponsive man in his 60s and were unable to revive him. |
| Ogan said the man’s oxygen equipment required power, but could not say whether the shutdown was related to his death. A PG&E spokesperson told the AP the utility has not been able to confirm the accuracy of the report. I’ve also asked for comment and will update if I hear back. | Ogan said the man’s oxygen equipment required power, but could not say whether the shutdown was related to his death. A PG&E spokesperson told the AP the utility has not been able to confirm the accuracy of the report. I’ve also asked for comment and will update if I hear back. |
| Here’s an earlier piece from my colleague Vivian Ho about possible impacts on medically vulnerable people: | Here’s an earlier piece from my colleague Vivian Ho about possible impacts on medically vulnerable people: |
| California power shutoff: how PG&E's actions hit the medically vulnerable the hardest | California power shutoff: how PG&E's actions hit the medically vulnerable the hardest |
| In southern California, officials at a press briefing just said the Sylmar fire had spread to 7,500 acres and was 13% contained. Roughly 25 homes have suffered severe impacts and damage. There are still 100,000 people under evacuation orders. | In southern California, officials at a press briefing just said the Sylmar fire had spread to 7,500 acres and was 13% contained. Roughly 25 homes have suffered severe impacts and damage. There are still 100,000 people under evacuation orders. |
| Ok @LAFD says total burn is at 7,500 acres and 13% containment. Home damage is still around 25 homes w "severe impact" in the northwest Valley | Ok @LAFD says total burn is at 7,500 acres and 13% containment. Home damage is still around 25 homes w "severe impact" in the northwest Valley |
| An LA fire department official said that while it appeared there was a “lull in activity” people should not be “fooled”: | An LA fire department official said that while it appeared there was a “lull in activity” people should not be “fooled”: |
| There’s a lot of potential for growth in this fire. It’s going to be a number of days. | There’s a lot of potential for growth in this fire. It’s going to be a number of days. |
| Some scenes on the ground: | Some scenes on the ground: |
| With winds randomly picking up, flare-ups like this one keep crews stationed outside homes for hours pic.twitter.com/qVMvXl1OeI | With winds randomly picking up, flare-ups like this one keep crews stationed outside homes for hours pic.twitter.com/qVMvXl1OeI |
| .@LACOFD firefighters monitoring a #SaddleridgeFire flare-up in a little valley by some homes in Porter Ranch pic.twitter.com/T7BDZFgDBz | .@LACOFD firefighters monitoring a #SaddleridgeFire flare-up in a little valley by some homes in Porter Ranch pic.twitter.com/T7BDZFgDBz |
| More harrowing stories of frantic escapes are emerging in the southern California fires: | More harrowing stories of frantic escapes are emerging in the southern California fires: |
| In California, life can change extremely suddenly. https://t.co/vIN7qbA7KL pic.twitter.com/WMrPNlQvj8 | In California, life can change extremely suddenly. https://t.co/vIN7qbA7KL pic.twitter.com/WMrPNlQvj8 |
| At around 2 a.m., she looked through her window and saw flames. “I started knocking on all my neighbors’ doors because I knew they were sleeping,” she said. “I’m banging and banging and I woke up about eight of them" https://t.co/2e8ZWIQOot | At around 2 a.m., she looked through her window and saw flames. “I started knocking on all my neighbors’ doors because I knew they were sleeping,” she said. “I’m banging and banging and I woke up about eight of them" https://t.co/2e8ZWIQOot |
| Like many, Mike Yazdi is schocked at how fast the fire moved and was basically at his front door. He evacuated around 4:45 am with his wife and two cats and just got home and is relieved to see it made it through. His neighbor woke them up and he said flames were across the road pic.twitter.com/m4mFmBkSY3 | Like many, Mike Yazdi is schocked at how fast the fire moved and was basically at his front door. He evacuated around 4:45 am with his wife and two cats and just got home and is relieved to see it made it through. His neighbor woke them up and he said flames were across the road pic.twitter.com/m4mFmBkSY3 |
| A PG&E spokesperson has just sent me this statement about the SF Chronicle’s report revealing that executives were wining and dining in Sonoma county as the utility was planning to shut down power for millions of people: | A PG&E spokesperson has just sent me this statement about the SF Chronicle’s report revealing that executives were wining and dining in Sonoma county as the utility was planning to shut down power for millions of people: |
| PG&E held an event on Tuesday in Sonoma County to recognize large gas customers who help provide stability to the gas transmission system and access to gas supply markets. The annual event has been held for over twenty years. Approximately 60 people attended including a handful of PG&E gas representatives. To be clear, our Corporation and Utility CEOs did not attend the event and were in the company’s emergency operations center leading the effort around the Public Safety Power Shutoff underway. | PG&E held an event on Tuesday in Sonoma County to recognize large gas customers who help provide stability to the gas transmission system and access to gas supply markets. The annual event has been held for over twenty years. Approximately 60 people attended including a handful of PG&E gas representatives. To be clear, our Corporation and Utility CEOs did not attend the event and were in the company’s emergency operations center leading the effort around the Public Safety Power Shutoff underway. |
| While the event was planned for about a year, we sincerely apologize for the insensitivity of the timing and location of the event, given the two-year milestone of the 2017 North Bay wildfires. Moving forward, we will no longer hold these types of events. We can never forget these tragic events, which profoundly affected our customers and all Californians. | While the event was planned for about a year, we sincerely apologize for the insensitivity of the timing and location of the event, given the two-year milestone of the 2017 North Bay wildfires. Moving forward, we will no longer hold these types of events. We can never forget these tragic events, which profoundly affected our customers and all Californians. |
| The event was funded by shareholders, and did not come from customer dollars, according to the statement. | The event was funded by shareholders, and did not come from customer dollars, according to the statement. |
| PG&E is facing widespread scrutiny for its decision to shut down power to millions, with critics saying the utility has failed at their maintenance obligations and was not adequately prepared for this predictable crisis. | PG&E is facing widespread scrutiny for its decision to shut down power to millions, with critics saying the utility has failed at their maintenance obligations and was not adequately prepared for this predictable crisis. |
| In southern California, winds are expected to diminish later this afternoon, but meteorologists say they could still be strong enough to continue the spread of the Saddleridge fire and others: | In southern California, winds are expected to diminish later this afternoon, but meteorologists say they could still be strong enough to continue the spread of the Saddleridge fire and others: |
| Can't let our guard down! Although winds will diminish this afternoon from current observations, they will still be strong enough to spread the #SaddleridgeFire and any others that flare up. #nbcla https://t.co/xX7IbiAqfa | Can't let our guard down! Although winds will diminish this afternoon from current observations, they will still be strong enough to spread the #SaddleridgeFire and any others that flare up. #nbcla https://t.co/xX7IbiAqfa |
| Meanwhile, the LA department of water and power says it has restored power to nearly all of its customers in Granada Hills affected by the fire. The utility says 21 customers remain without power due to fire-related damage: | Meanwhile, the LA department of water and power says it has restored power to nearly all of its customers in Granada Hills affected by the fire. The utility says 21 customers remain without power due to fire-related damage: |
| Our crews have restored power to nearly all #GranadaHills customers affected by #SaddleridgeFire. 21 customers remain out due to fire related damage. Crews are working in the area to make repairs. @LAFD | Our crews have restored power to nearly all #GranadaHills customers affected by #SaddleridgeFire. 21 customers remain out due to fire related damage. Crews are working in the area to make repairs. @LAFD |
| PG&E now says that power has been restored to roughly 74% of customers impacted by the shutoffs: | PG&E now says that power has been restored to roughly 74% of customers impacted by the shutoffs: |
| JUST IN: PG&E says that about 543,000 customers impacted by their Public Safety Power Shutoffs have had their power restored. Less than 195,000 customers remain without power. https://t.co/5Rm3fieg8L | JUST IN: PG&E says that about 543,000 customers impacted by their Public Safety Power Shutoffs have had their power restored. Less than 195,000 customers remain without power. https://t.co/5Rm3fieg8L |
| Some specifics on the latest numbers of those restored” | Some specifics on the latest numbers of those restored” |
| Alameda County: 86% | Alameda County: 86% |
| Contra Costa County: 95% | Contra Costa County: 95% |
| Marin County: 80% | Marin County: 80% |
| Napa County: 75% | Napa County: 75% |
| San Mateo County: 86% | San Mateo County: 86% |
| Santa Clara: 94% | Santa Clara: 94% |
| Solano County: 96% | Solano County: 96% |
| Sonoma County: 78% | Sonoma County: 78% |
| PG&E has said that crews need to inspect equipment and lines before power is restored and that in some cases that process could take multiple days. | PG&E has said that crews need to inspect equipment and lines before power is restored and that in some cases that process could take multiple days. |
| A few videos of the fire devastation in southern California from people on the ground: | A few videos of the fire devastation in southern California from people on the ground: |
| #SylmarFire has jumped the 5... racing toward Granada hills @NBCLA https://t.co/4fAs6Rd8rr | #SylmarFire has jumped the 5... racing toward Granada hills @NBCLA https://t.co/4fAs6Rd8rr |
| Video: Strong winds are fanning the #SaddleridgeFire in Porter Ranch, Sylmar and Granada Hills. Via @gadiNBC https://t.co/98J1DqcBS4 pic.twitter.com/zkYKLESNAJ | Video: Strong winds are fanning the #SaddleridgeFire in Porter Ranch, Sylmar and Granada Hills. Via @gadiNBC https://t.co/98J1DqcBS4 pic.twitter.com/zkYKLESNAJ |
| #SaddleridgeFire: Two homes on fire along Celtic and Laughton — a few of us are knocking on doors because some people came running up the street asking what was happening. It’s 1am and people are sleeping. No fire department crews in this area @ABC7 pic.twitter.com/JLYVkuifxA | #SaddleridgeFire: Two homes on fire along Celtic and Laughton — a few of us are knocking on doors because some people came running up the street asking what was happening. It’s 1am and people are sleeping. No fire department crews in this area @ABC7 pic.twitter.com/JLYVkuifxA |
| Scary as fast moving flames driven by strong #winds sweep through communities overnight. This is driving down Sesnon after fire jumped the road. #GranadaHills #PorterRanch @abc7 #abc7eyewitness pic.twitter.com/o9loblhxse | Scary as fast moving flames driven by strong #winds sweep through communities overnight. This is driving down Sesnon after fire jumped the road. #GranadaHills #PorterRanch @abc7 #abc7eyewitness pic.twitter.com/o9loblhxse |
| This is one of the homes destroyed on Jollett Ave. in Granada Hills during the #SaddleRanchFireThe homeowner is an elderly woman who was evacuated overnight. @FOXLA @GDLA @LACoFDPIO pic.twitter.com/XBsar3XHto | This is one of the homes destroyed on Jollett Ave. in Granada Hills during the #SaddleRanchFireThe homeowner is an elderly woman who was evacuated overnight. @FOXLA @GDLA @LACoFDPIO pic.twitter.com/XBsar3XHto |
| WOW flames over 50 feet high approaching homes on Calle Vista in Granada Hills. #SaddleridgeFire @FOXLA pic.twitter.com/ovo4cmIM7i | WOW flames over 50 feet high approaching homes on Calle Vista in Granada Hills. #SaddleridgeFire @FOXLA pic.twitter.com/ovo4cmIM7i |
| PG&E executives were wining and dining on the company’s dime in Sonoma county as the utility was planning to shut down power for millions of people across California, the San Francisco Chronicle is reporting: | PG&E executives were wining and dining on the company’s dime in Sonoma county as the utility was planning to shut down power for millions of people across California, the San Francisco Chronicle is reporting: |
| EXCLUSIVE: PG&E gas officials wined and dined with top customers in Sonoma County just before their colleagues cut power to hundreds of thousands of customers and on the 2-year anniversary of the 2017 North Bay wildfires. https://t.co/DG1Ivwg1j7 | EXCLUSIVE: PG&E gas officials wined and dined with top customers in Sonoma County just before their colleagues cut power to hundreds of thousands of customers and on the 2-year anniversary of the 2017 North Bay wildfires. https://t.co/DG1Ivwg1j7 |
| Roughly a dozen employees from PG&E’s gas side of the business mingled with 50 to 60 top customers at a winery on Monday and Tuesday, according to thew newspaper. The trip to the winery also came two years after PG&E poles ignited deadly and devastating wildfires in that exact region of wine country. | Roughly a dozen employees from PG&E’s gas side of the business mingled with 50 to 60 top customers at a winery on Monday and Tuesday, according to thew newspaper. The trip to the winery also came two years after PG&E poles ignited deadly and devastating wildfires in that exact region of wine country. |
| Here’s what Bill Johnson, CEO of the utility’s parent company, told the Chronicle: | Here’s what Bill Johnson, CEO of the utility’s parent company, told the Chronicle: |
| I want to apologize to every one of our customers. Insensitive, inappropriate, tone deaf are the terms I would use to describe this. | I want to apologize to every one of our customers. Insensitive, inappropriate, tone deaf are the terms I would use to describe this. |
| Johnson also told the reporter he was not aware the event was happening and would have stopped it if he had known. | Johnson also told the reporter he was not aware the event was happening and would have stopped it if he had known. |
| I just reached out to PG&E to see if they have any additional comment and will update if I hear back. | I just reached out to PG&E to see if they have any additional comment and will update if I hear back. |
| For those displaced by the Saddleridge fire in northern LA, a fifth evacuation center has opened: | For those displaced by the Saddleridge fire in northern LA, a fifth evacuation center has opened: |
| #SaddleridgeFire A new evacuation center is open at Lanark Recreation Center (21816 Lanark St) The other four evacuation centers are now FULL and unable to accept new arrivals. Please check https://t.co/0kdujOUhIz for the latest updates #LAFD | #SaddleridgeFire A new evacuation center is open at Lanark Recreation Center (21816 Lanark St) The other four evacuation centers are now FULL and unable to accept new arrivals. Please check https://t.co/0kdujOUhIz for the latest updates #LAFD |
| Info on the centers, from the fire department: | Info on the centers, from the fire department: |
| NEW and OPEN for arrivals: Lanark Recreation Center (21816 Lanark St) | NEW and OPEN for arrivals: Lanark Recreation Center (21816 Lanark St) |
| FULL: Sylmar Recreation Center (13109 Borden Ave) | FULL: Sylmar Recreation Center (13109 Borden Ave) |
| FULL: Northridge Recreation Center (18300 Lemarsh St) | FULL: Northridge Recreation Center (18300 Lemarsh St) |
| FULL: Granada Hills Recreation Center is now full and not able to accept any more residents. | FULL: Granada Hills Recreation Center is now full and not able to accept any more residents. |
| FULL: Mason Park (10,500 Mason Ave) | FULL: Mason Park (10,500 Mason Ave) |
| For large animals: | For large animals: |
| Hansen Dam (11770 Foothill Blvd) | Hansen Dam (11770 Foothill Blvd) |
| NEW: Pierce College (6201 Winnetka Ave) | NEW: Pierce College (6201 Winnetka Ave) |
| If you need help with the evacuation of large animals, contact East Valley Animal Shelter 818-756-9323 | If you need help with the evacuation of large animals, contact East Valley Animal Shelter 818-756-9323 |
| Officials in southern California have reported a second death linked to the wildfires. | Officials in southern California have reported a second death linked to the wildfires. |
| A person was killed when a fire swept through a mobile home park in Riverside county east of Los Angeles, Cal Fire spokeswoman Cathey Mattingly told the AP. Mattingly said there were also some injuries, but details of the severity were unclear. There were also few details about the individual who died. | A person was killed when a fire swept through a mobile home park in Riverside county east of Los Angeles, Cal Fire spokeswoman Cathey Mattingly told the AP. Mattingly said there were also some injuries, but details of the severity were unclear. There were also few details about the individual who died. |
| SECOND DEATH: Another death has been confirmed at the scene of wildfires in Southern California. Read more: https://t.co/9bIfqBSNY0 pic.twitter.com/apFDBaNCyC | SECOND DEATH: Another death has been confirmed at the scene of wildfires in Southern California. Read more: https://t.co/9bIfqBSNY0 pic.twitter.com/apFDBaNCyC |
| The Riverside county fire was estimated to be about 823 acres (333 hectares) and 10% contained this morning. | The Riverside county fire was estimated to be about 823 acres (333 hectares) and 10% contained this morning. |
| In LA at a separate fire, a man went into cardiac arrest and died. | In LA at a separate fire, a man went into cardiac arrest and died. |
| In northern California, the impacts of the controversial Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) power cuts are being disproportionately borne by those who are physically vulnerable, my colleague Vivian Ho reports: | In northern California, the impacts of the controversial Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) power cuts are being disproportionately borne by those who are physically vulnerable, my colleague Vivian Ho reports: |
| California power shutoff: how PG&E's actions hit the medically vulnerable the hardest https://t.co/apAqSHou5p | California power shutoff: how PG&E's actions hit the medically vulnerable the hardest https://t.co/apAqSHou5p |
| Deanne Mediati learned of northern California’s massive power shutoff when her husband shook her awake at 3:30 in the morning on Wednesday. “Honey, the power is out,” he told her. “You’re not breathing.” | Deanne Mediati learned of northern California’s massive power shutoff when her husband shook her awake at 3:30 in the morning on Wednesday. “Honey, the power is out,” he told her. “You’re not breathing.” |
| Mediati, 59, has hypoxia and requires an oxygen concentrator to breathe when she sleeps. Like everything else running on electricity in 600,000 Californian homes and businesses this week, her oxygen concentrator stopped working when the country’s largest utility company cut power to an unprecedented swath of the state as a preventive measure against wildfires. | Mediati, 59, has hypoxia and requires an oxygen concentrator to breathe when she sleeps. Like everything else running on electricity in 600,000 Californian homes and businesses this week, her oxygen concentrator stopped working when the country’s largest utility company cut power to an unprecedented swath of the state as a preventive measure against wildfires. |
| For Californians like Mediati who rely on electronic medical devices, access to electricity is a matter of life or death. | For Californians like Mediati who rely on electronic medical devices, access to electricity is a matter of life or death. |
| “I had to be woken up because I stopped breathing,” Mediati said. “I could have died.” | “I had to be woken up because I stopped breathing,” Mediati said. “I could have died.” |
| In the latest shutoff in northern California, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) cut the power to portions of 34 of the state’s 58 counties on Wednesday, a move that affects more than 1.5 million people. Of those affected, more than 30,000 are part of a medical baseline program, meaning they have special energy needs due to qualifying medical conditions. | In the latest shutoff in northern California, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) cut the power to portions of 34 of the state’s 58 counties on Wednesday, a move that affects more than 1.5 million people. Of those affected, more than 30,000 are part of a medical baseline program, meaning they have special energy needs due to qualifying medical conditions. |
| These energy needs range from motorized wheelchairs, ventilators, dialysis machines, apnea monitors, electrostatic nebulizers to respirators – all of which require power to operate. In the aftermath of the shutdown, people dependent on these devices were scrambling to find alternative power sources, places to charge them or other ways to get through what was originally slated to be up to five to seven days of no electricity. | These energy needs range from motorized wheelchairs, ventilators, dialysis machines, apnea monitors, electrostatic nebulizers to respirators – all of which require power to operate. In the aftermath of the shutdown, people dependent on these devices were scrambling to find alternative power sources, places to charge them or other ways to get through what was originally slated to be up to five to seven days of no electricity. |
| Read her full story here: | Read her full story here: |
| California power shutoff: how PG&E's actions hit the medically vulnerable the hardest | California power shutoff: how PG&E's actions hit the medically vulnerable the hardest |
| Welcome to our live coverage of the wildfires and power shutoffs plaguing the state of California today. We’ll be keeping you updated on the latest developments. I’m writing from Los Angeles, where the Saddleridge fire is continuing to spread and spark widespread evacuations. | Welcome to our live coverage of the wildfires and power shutoffs plaguing the state of California today. We’ll be keeping you updated on the latest developments. I’m writing from Los Angeles, where the Saddleridge fire is continuing to spread and spark widespread evacuations. |
| To start, a quick summary of the status of these emergencies: | To start, a quick summary of the status of these emergencies: |
| In northern Los Angeles, a rapidly spreading wildfire has led to evacuation orders for roughly 100,000 people across more than 20,000 homes. | In northern Los Angeles, a rapidly spreading wildfire has led to evacuation orders for roughly 100,000 people across more than 20,000 homes. |
| The Saddleridge fire erupted Thursday night in Sylmar, the northernmost portion of the San Fernando valley, and it has spread at a rate of roughly 800 acres an hour into Granada Hills and Porter Ranch. | The Saddleridge fire erupted Thursday night in Sylmar, the northernmost portion of the San Fernando valley, and it has spread at a rate of roughly 800 acres an hour into Granada Hills and Porter Ranch. |
| Fire officials said Friday morning the fire had grown to more than seven square miles and estimated that there was damage to at least 25 homes. | Fire officials said Friday morning the fire had grown to more than seven square miles and estimated that there was damage to at least 25 homes. |
| One middle-aged man died of a cardiac arrest near the fire, though specific details of the death were unclear. | One middle-aged man died of a cardiac arrest near the fire, though specific details of the death were unclear. |
| A separate blaze also ripped through a mobile home park in Calimesa, a city roughly 65 miles (104km) east of LA, destroying dozens of residences. | A separate blaze also ripped through a mobile home park in Calimesa, a city roughly 65 miles (104km) east of LA, destroying dozens of residences. |
| Southern California Edison turned off electricity to about 20,000 people in Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino and Kern counties but warned that thousands more could lose service as Santa Ana winds gained strength. | Southern California Edison turned off electricity to about 20,000 people in Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino and Kern counties but warned that thousands more could lose service as Santa Ana winds gained strength. |
| In northern California, PG&E had shut off power to an estimated 2 million people over fears its equipment could spark wildfires amid high winds. | In northern California, PG&E had shut off power to an estimated 2 million people over fears its equipment could spark wildfires amid high winds. |
| PG&E has started the process of restoring power to some of the communities that were cut off on Wednesday and Thursday. | PG&E has started the process of restoring power to some of the communities that were cut off on Wednesday and Thursday. |
| Our latest story here: | Our latest story here: |
| California wildfire spreads as fears mount over further power shutoffs | California wildfire spreads as fears mount over further power shutoffs |