16,000 Southern California customers without power Friday amid high winds, ‘critical fire danger’
Thousands of Southern California residents were without power Friday as utility officials implemented safety-related shutoffs to prevent equipment from sparking wildfires amid strong Santa Ana winds.
Southern California Edison said 16,183 had no power as of noon Friday in areas including portions of Simi Valley and Santa Clarita in Los Angeles County and swaths of Orange, San Bernardino and Ventura Counties.
Another 46,852 customers were in danger of having their power cut, the utility said.
A red flag warning for the Los Angeles and Ventura mountains and Santa Clarita Valley started Thanksgiving Day and was extended through Saturday evening, the National Weather Service said.
“We have critical fire danger with winds gusting up to 40 to 60 miles per hour today, and it looks likes winds should diminish to 15 to 30 miles per hour tonight with some gusts up to 45 miles per hour into Saturday morning,” Joe Sirard, a NWS meteorologist based in Oxnard, Calif., told the Daily News.
There are areas in our region that may be affected by PSPS due to elevated fire risk. Safety is the top priority. Use flashlights instead of candles, and if you’re using a generator make sure you know how to use it safely.
More tips: https://t.co/ikN8vBVjpG https://t.co/9nghu2zC7X— Red Cross Central California (@RedCrossCCR) November 26, 2020
He said the relative humidity was low at 5% to 15%, exacerbating the risk of a wildfire in fire-prone areas.
“The combination of gusty winds and extremely low humidity has resulted in these widespread red flag conditions across the area,” he said.
The Red Flag Warning for the LA/VTA mtns, Santa Clarita Vly, and VTA valleys has been EXTENDED through Sat 6pm! RH in the single digits to teens are expected Fri/Sat along with Santa Ana winds gusting 50-65 in the mtns and 40-55 in the vlys. High fire danger is expected! #CAwx pic.twitter.com/DvZwDuQ7BB
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) November 27, 2020
