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'Potentially historic': dangerous winds expected as fires burn across California 'Potentially historic': dangerous winds expected as fires burn across California
(about 2 hours later)
Wildfires burned throughout California on Saturday as the state’s largest utility prepared to shut off power to millions of people once again, amid forecasts of dry and high-wind fire weather. Californians braced for power cuts and a “potentially historic” wind event on Saturday as a growing wildfire prompted fresh evacuations for 50,000 people in the northern Bay Area.
The tumultuous Kincade fire spread to 25,455 acres in the wine-growing region of Sonoma county, prompting a new evacuation order for approximately 50,000 people. The tumultuous Kincade fire spread to 25,455 acres in the wine-growing region of Sonoma county, with meteorologists warning of severe, windy conditions beginning Saturday night that could see gusts of up to 80mph. The entire communities of Healdsburg and Windsor were ordered to evacuate.
Meteorologists warned of a “potentially historic” wind event beginning Saturday night that could see gusts of up to 80mph. The Kincade fire broke out late on Wednesday night and has so far destroyed nearly 50 structures. The Sonoma county sheriff’s office said it is expected to be the biggest evacuation in the county in more than 25 years.
“The winds are expected anywhere between 8pm 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.
The Kincade fire broke out late on Wednesday night and has so far destroyed nearly 50 structures.
From @NWSBayArea this AM: "A potentially historic, long duration, extremely critical offshore wind event is forecast to occur beginning...tonight and persist through early Monday. The storm prediction center has placed North Bay under the highest fire weather risk. #CAwx #CAfire pic.twitter.com/1M4kOAUwsEFrom @NWSBayArea this AM: "A potentially historic, long duration, extremely critical offshore wind event is forecast to occur beginning...tonight and persist through early Monday. The storm prediction center has placed North Bay under the highest fire weather risk. #CAwx #CAfire pic.twitter.com/1M4kOAUwsE
Meanwhile the blaze that forced evacuations of 50,000 residents in suburbs north of Los Angeles grew to 4,615 acres overnight. The Tick fire, which started on Thursday, has destroyed nine homes and businesses while threatening 10,000 more, according to firefighters. While some evacuees were allowed back into their homes as of Friday night, certain mandatory evacuation orders still remained. Meanwhile, millions across the state will have their power cut again as California’s largest utility, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), said it would shut off electricity for the third time in as many weeks.
PG&E said it would begin blackouts in the afternoon for about 940,000 homes and businesses in 36 counties for 48 hours or longer throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, wine country and Sierra foothills. That’s about 90,000 more customers affected than previously predicted.
Two previous power shutdowns were done amid concern that gusty winds could disrupt or knock down power lines and spark devastating wildfires.
Another blaze that forced evacuations of 50,000 residents in suburbs north of Los Angeles grew to 4,615 acres overnight. The Tick fire, which started on Thursday, has destroyed nine homes and businesses while threatening 10,000 more, according to firefighters. While some evacuees were allowed back into their homes as of Friday night, certain mandatory evacuation orders still remained.
The Tick fire is currently 25% contained, while the Kincade fire is 10% contained.The Tick fire is currently 25% contained, while the Kincade fire is 10% contained.
A special kind of hell: fires, smoke and heat turn LA into a deadly paradiseA special kind of hell: fires, smoke and heat turn LA into a deadly paradise
California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, has declared a local emergency to assist with battling the blazes, and thousands of firefighters have been deployed to both locations. But they face extremely challenging weather conditions known for spreading wildfire such as 80mph winds, low humidity and temperatures of up to 90F (32C). A meteorologist described the statewide weather event as an “atmospheric hairdryer”. California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, has declared a local emergency to assist with battling the blazes, and thousands of firefighters have been deployed to both locations.
The weather conditions prompted the utility Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) to announce plans to shut off power to prevent further fires from sparking. PG&E has a history of sparking wildfires throughout the state, including two of the deadliest disasters in recent California history. PG&E has a history of sparking wildfires throughout the state, including two of the deadliest disasters in recent California history.
Firefighters battling the Kincade fire discovered what appeared to be a broken jumper by a PG&E transmission tower that had lost power. Though PG&E had shut off power to the area as part of planned shutoff, the transmission lines remained energized, the utility said. The cause of the Kincade fire is still under investigation.Firefighters battling the Kincade fire discovered what appeared to be a broken jumper by a PG&E transmission tower that had lost power. Though PG&E had shut off power to the area as part of planned shutoff, the transmission lines remained energized, the utility said. The cause of the Kincade fire is still under investigation.
The power shutoff in Geyserville created a dangerous challenge when it came time to evacuate residents as the blaze crept nearer. Typically during evacuations, local authorities deploy reverse 911 calls to alert individual residents. With the power out, evacuees reported being awakened in the early hours by frantic knocks on their front doors.The power shutoff in Geyserville created a dangerous challenge when it came time to evacuate residents as the blaze crept nearer. Typically during evacuations, local authorities deploy reverse 911 calls to alert individual residents. With the power out, evacuees reported being awakened in the early hours by frantic knocks on their front doors.
In San Diego county, where other small wildfires are burning, helicopters were forced to make the evacuation orders over loudspeaker because the power was shut off. San Diego runs its own utility and is conducting its own planned shutoffs during high-fire weather conditions.In San Diego county, where other small wildfires are burning, helicopters were forced to make the evacuation orders over loudspeaker because the power was shut off. San Diego runs its own utility and is conducting its own planned shutoffs during high-fire weather conditions.
#BREAKING: Helicopters are circling over the community in Valley Center, making announcements over a loudspeaker for residents to evacuate as the #MillerFire burns. https://t.co/0iqZWkEy34 pic.twitter.com/shu4rmxGEB#BREAKING: Helicopters are circling over the community in Valley Center, making announcements over a loudspeaker for residents to evacuate as the #MillerFire burns. https://t.co/0iqZWkEy34 pic.twitter.com/shu4rmxGEB
PG&E warned of outages that could hit people in the north and central parts of the state from Saturday until Monday. Californians in the vicinity of the fires faced a weekend of smokey haze and bad air quality. Sonoma county, where the Kincade fire rages, advised residents to cancel plans and stay indoors.
Meanwhile, Californians in the vicinity of the fires braced for a smokey haze and bad air quality. Sonoma county, where the Kincade fire rages, advised residents to cancel plans and stay indoors.
Due to weather conditions, we are advising people to cancel their events this weekend. Whenever possible, please stay indoors and off the roads. pic.twitter.com/wIGt9Mum3YDue to weather conditions, we are advising people to cancel their events this weekend. Whenever possible, please stay indoors and off the roads. pic.twitter.com/wIGt9Mum3Y
In the Bay Area, with residents still leery after the heavy smoke event from last year’s Camp fire, officials warned residents to close windows and use masks. Local high school sporting events were canceled.In the Bay Area, with residents still leery after the heavy smoke event from last year’s Camp fire, officials warned residents to close windows and use masks. Local high school sporting events were canceled.
Though nine wildfires are currently burning throughout the state, none have reached the level of death and destruction witnessed in the past few years. Nevertheless fears remain, especially among those who lived through the devastation of the previous fires. The Kincade fire was starting to skirt along the path of the 2015 Valley fire, which killed four people and burned through more than 76,000 acres.Though nine wildfires are currently burning throughout the state, none have reached the level of death and destruction witnessed in the past few years. Nevertheless fears remain, especially among those who lived through the devastation of the previous fires. The Kincade fire was starting to skirt along the path of the 2015 Valley fire, which killed four people and burned through more than 76,000 acres.
The harsh fire weather conditions have spread beyond the state, kicking up flames in parts of Baja California, just across the border from San Diego in Mexico.The harsh fire weather conditions have spread beyond the state, kicking up flames in parts of Baja California, just across the border from San Diego in Mexico.
Mexican authorities say three people have died, with several fires forcing 1,645 people to evacuate their homes and burning more than 35,000 acres.Mexican authorities say three people have died, with several fires forcing 1,645 people to evacuate their homes and burning more than 35,000 acres.
“This is the strongest Santa Ana wind related-fires ever struck Baja California in its history, due to the number of cities and houses affected and the number of people that have perished,” Antonio Rosquillas, the director of Baja California Civil Protection, told the San Diego Union-Tribune. The Santa Ana winds are extremely strong, dry winds affecting southern California and northern Baja California.“This is the strongest Santa Ana wind related-fires ever struck Baja California in its history, due to the number of cities and houses affected and the number of people that have perished,” Antonio Rosquillas, the director of Baja California Civil Protection, told the San Diego Union-Tribune. The Santa Ana winds are extremely strong, dry winds affecting southern California and northern Baja California.
Susie Cagle and agencies contributed reporting Susie Cagle contributed reporting
CaliforniaCalifornia
WildfiresWildfires
Natural disasters and extreme weatherNatural disasters and extreme weather
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