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California wildfires: New evacuations amid warning over strong winds Kincade fire: Mass blackout begins amid California wildfires
(about 5 hours later)
New evacuations have been ordered in California as officials warn wildfires could spread because of extremely strong winds. Power cuts expected to affect more than two million people have begun in California as fires continue to surge.
Some 50,000 residents in the towns of Windsor and Healdsburg, north of San Francisco, have been told to move. Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) initiated the precautionary blackout - expected to be the largest in state history - due to forecasts of extreme winds, which it said could damage facilities and cause new fires.
Meanwhile, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) said it would turn off power in 36 counties for 48 hours or longer, affecting up to two million people. California Governor Gavin Newsom said the outages were "unacceptable".
There are fears wind gusts could hit power lines, causing new fires. Some 90,000 people have been ordered to evacuate towns in northern California.
A state of emergency has been declared in Los Angeles and Sonoma counties, and thousands of firefighters were still battling flames. The new evacuation order encompasses a huge area of Sonoma County, where the Kincade Fire has already burned through 25,455 acres (10,300 hectares) of land.
A state of emergency has been declared in Los Angeles and Sonoma counties, and thousands of firefighters are battling the blazes.
Why is the power being switched off?
PG&E said the power cuts would affect 940,000 households and businesses across 36 counties in northern California - hitting an estimated two million people. The outages are expected to last until Monday.
"We have begun implementing the public safety power shutoff", a PG&E official confirmed in a press conference on Saturday evening.
In a statement the previous day, PG&E warned customers that they could be affected by a mass blackout, citing forecasts of potential extreme weather.
The warning came as the company faced scrutiny over its possible role in the fires.
The Kincade Fire in northern California began seven minutes after a nearby power line was damaged, but PG&E has not yet confirmed if the power glitch started the blaze.
The company is already seeking bankruptcy protection as it faces lawsuits over last year's Camp Fire, which killed 85 people. The deadliest wildfire in the state's history was sparked by ageing equipment owned by PG&E. It spawned billions of dollars in liability claims against the company.
In a video posted to Twitter on Saturday, Governor Newsom said the power cuts were "infuriating everyone, and rightfully so".
"We are going to do our best to get through these high wind events...and get these lights back on and do everything in our power to make sure PG&E's never in a position where they're doing this to us again," he said.
What's the forecast?What's the forecast?
The Kincade Fire, which started on Wednesday, has burned through 25,455 acres (10,300 hectares) of land in Sonoma County, one of California's best-known wine regions. The Kincade Fire was about 10% contained as of Saturday evening local time.
The fire was burning in remote steep terrain making access difficult, the state fire department said. On Saturday, it was about 10% contained. The fire was burning in remote, steep terrain, making access difficult, the state fire department said.
Winds in the region were expected to pick up from 20:00 local time on Saturday (03:00 GMT on Sunday) and gusts were forecast to hit 85mph (137km/h). Winds in the region were expected to pick up on Saturday night and gusts were forecast to hit 85mph (137km/h).
The National Weather Service issued a "red flag" warning for areas around the Kincade Fire, which had destroyed some 50 structures. The National Weather Service issued a "red flag" warning for areas around the Kincade Fire.
On Saturday, PG&E warned about 940,000 homes and businesses could be impacted by the power cut between Saturday evening and midday on Monday. In suburban Los Angeles, the Tick Fire had charred 4,615 acres and was 55% contained as of Saturday evening. All residents who were told to evacuate have returned home.
The warning from PG&E came as the company faced scrutiny over its possible role in the fires. Firefighters have also been battling several other blazes in the state.
In suburban Los Angeles, the Tick Fire had charred 4,615 acres and was 25% contained, according to county officials. All residents who were told to evacuate have returned home.
Nine structures were destroyed but no injuries were reported.
'Seconds to get out''Seconds to get out'
BBC correspondent Peter Bowes lives in the Santa Clarita area north of Los Angeles, where the Tick Fire has been raging.BBC correspondent Peter Bowes lives in the Santa Clarita area north of Los Angeles, where the Tick Fire has been raging.
"My partner was in the house and had just seconds to get out, to pick up the dog, throw the dog in the car - gently - just get out. It happened that quickly and all our neighbours did exactly the same thing," he said. "My partner was in the house and had just seconds to get out, to pick up the dog, throw the dog in the car - gently - just get out. It happened that quickly and all our neighbours did exactly the same thing," he said on Friday.
He later tweeted photos of the devastation.He later tweeted photos of the devastation.
What's caused the wildfires?
According to a report filed to the California Public Utilities Commission on Thursday, a "broken jumper" - which connects power lines to towers - was discovered at 21:20 on Wednesday.
The fire began at 21:27, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The news sent share prices of PG&E tumbling on Friday, as investors feared the company might be held responsible for the Kincade Fire.
The company is already seeking bankruptcy protection as it faces lawsuits over last year's Camp Fire, which killed 85 people.
The deadliest wildfire in the state's history was sparked by ageing equipment owned by PG&E. It spawned billions of dollars in liability claims against the company.