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| California faces huge power cuts as wildfires rage | California faces huge power cuts as wildfires rage |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| An estimated 1.5 million people in California are set to lose power on Tuesday as a utility firm tries to stop damaged cables triggering wildfires. | |
| Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) said the shut-offs on Tuesday are a precaution as high winds are forecast. | |
| It already faces an investigation by regulators after cutting power to almost a million properties in a bid to reduce the fires. | |
| Wildfires fanned by the strong winds are raging in two parts of the state. | Wildfires fanned by the strong winds are raging in two parts of the state. |
| Thousands of residents near the wealthy Brentwood neighbourhood of Los Angeles have been told to evacuate because of a wildfire that began early on Monday. | Thousands of residents near the wealthy Brentwood neighbourhood of Los Angeles have been told to evacuate because of a wildfire that began early on Monday. |
| Celebrities including the actor-turned-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger and basketball star LeBron James are among those who have fled the fast-moving Getty Fire, which started near the Getty Center arts complex. | Celebrities including the actor-turned-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger and basketball star LeBron James are among those who have fled the fast-moving Getty Fire, which started near the Getty Center arts complex. |
| Further north in Sonoma County, a larger fire has forced 180,000 people from their homes. | Further north in Sonoma County, a larger fire has forced 180,000 people from their homes. |
| California's governor has declared a state-wide emergency. | California's governor has declared a state-wide emergency. |
| What about the power cuts? | What about the power cuts? |
| On Monday regulators announced a formal inquiry into whether energy utilities broke rules by pre-emptively cutting power to an estimated 2.5 million people as wildfire risks soared. | On Monday regulators announced a formal inquiry into whether energy utilities broke rules by pre-emptively cutting power to an estimated 2.5 million people as wildfire risks soared. |
| They did not name any utilities but analysts said PG&E was responsible for the bulk of the "public safety power shut-offs". | They did not name any utilities but analysts said PG&E was responsible for the bulk of the "public safety power shut-offs". |
| The company filed for bankruptcy in January after facing hundreds of lawsuits from victims of wildfires in 2017 and 2018. | The company filed for bankruptcy in January after facing hundreds of lawsuits from victims of wildfires in 2017 and 2018. |
| Of the 970,000 properties hit by the most recent cuts, under half had their services back by Monday, the Associated Press reported. | Of the 970,000 properties hit by the most recent cuts, under half had their services back by Monday, the Associated Press reported. |
| Despite criticism that the precautionary blackouts were too widespread and too disruptive, PG&E said more would come on Tuesday and Wednesday because further strong winds were expected. | Despite criticism that the precautionary blackouts were too widespread and too disruptive, PG&E said more would come on Tuesday and Wednesday because further strong winds were expected. |
| The company said it had logged more than 20 preliminary reports of damage to its network from the most recent windstorm. | The company said it had logged more than 20 preliminary reports of damage to its network from the most recent windstorm. |
| In a video posted to Twitter on Saturday, Governor Gavin Newsom said the power cuts were "infuriating everyone, and rightfully so". | In a video posted to Twitter on Saturday, Governor Gavin Newsom said the power cuts were "infuriating everyone, and rightfully so". |
| Where are the fires now? | Where are the fires now? |
| In Los Angeles, the Getty Fire has burned over 600 acres (242 ha) and about 10,000 buildings are in the mandatory evacuation zone. | In Los Angeles, the Getty Fire has burned over 600 acres (242 ha) and about 10,000 buildings are in the mandatory evacuation zone. |
| At least eight homes have been destroyed and five others damaged. | At least eight homes have been destroyed and five others damaged. |
| "If you are in an evacuation zone, don't screw around," Mr Schwarzenegger tweeted. "Get out." | "If you are in an evacuation zone, don't screw around," Mr Schwarzenegger tweeted. "Get out." |
| LA fire chief Ralph Terrazas said fire crews had been "overwhelmed" by the scale of the fires. | LA fire chief Ralph Terrazas said fire crews had been "overwhelmed" by the scale of the fires. |
| "They had to make some tough decisions on which houses they were able to protect," he said. | "They had to make some tough decisions on which houses they were able to protect," he said. |
| "Many times it depends on where the ember lands. I saw homes that were adjacent to homes that were totally destroyed, without any damage." | "Many times it depends on where the ember lands. I saw homes that were adjacent to homes that were totally destroyed, without any damage." |
| In northern California, schools remain closed in Sonoma County, where tens of thousands of homes and businesses are under threat. | In northern California, schools remain closed in Sonoma County, where tens of thousands of homes and businesses are under threat. |
| Sonoma has been ravaged by the Kincade Fire, which started on Wednesday and has burned through 50,000 acres of land, fanned by the winds. | Sonoma has been ravaged by the Kincade Fire, which started on Wednesday and has burned through 50,000 acres of land, fanned by the winds. |
| The Kincade Fire 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 Kincade Fire began seven minutes after a nearby power line was damaged, but PG&E has not yet confirmed if the power glitch started the blaze. |
| About 180,000 people have been ordered to evacuate, with roads around Santa Rosa north of San Francisco packed with cars as people tried to flee. | About 180,000 people have been ordered to evacuate, with roads around Santa Rosa north of San Francisco packed with cars as people tried to flee. |
| There are fears the flames could cross the 101 highway and enter areas that have not seen wildfires since the 1940s. | There are fears the flames could cross the 101 highway and enter areas that have not seen wildfires since the 1940s. |
| Have you been affected by the wildfires or power cuts? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you been affected by the wildfires or power cuts? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below: | Or use the form below: |