California brush fires force evacuations as utilities cut power to tens of thousands
In short
Several brush fires stoked by hot, windy weather burned in Southern California, including a blaze in Malibu that grew to about 200 acres and prompted evacuation orders. Utilities shut off electricity to tens of thousands of people as a precaution, and fire-weather conditions were expected to last through Saturday.
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Several brush fires burned in Southern California, stoked by hot, windy weather that led to evacuations and caused utility companies to shut off electricity for tens of thousands of people around the state, according to reports from the Seattle Times, citing the AP, and the Guardian. [ 2 , 5 , 6 ]
A rapidly spreading blaze in Malibu, west of Los Angeles, prompted evacuation orders and warnings for a large part of the Santa Monica Mountains. The Guardian named it the Bryson fire and said more than 285 firefighters battled it overnight as it grew to about 200 acres (81 hectares). It threatened a Los Angeles County juvenile detention and rehabilitative facility, which the AP-based report said had to be evacuated Thursday night. [ 2 , 6 ]
County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath thanked firefighters who she said made sure no lives or structures were put in harm's way, and said the fire was 17% contained as of Friday morning. County fire chief Anthony Marrone said the combination of Santa Ana winds, high temperatures and dry vegetation would keep the fire threat high across the county into the weekend. He said there were only minor injuries among the more than 400 firefighters working on the blaze. The Getty Villa announced it would be closed Friday because of the fire, and state parks in the Santa Monica Mountains were also closed. [ 6 ]
Firefighters also worked to contain two other fires that sparked in the afternoon. One triggered evacuation orders in Azusa, north of Los Angeles, and the other at Camp Pendleton, near San Diego. The Guardian said the Azusa fire burned more than 40 acres on Thursday and briefly prompted evacuation orders for a neighborhood in the foothills. [ 2 , 6 ]
In Northern California, Pacific Gas and Electric said nearly 62,000 customers in 26 counties had no electricity after it began proactively turning off power Wednesday night. Southern California Edison said an additional 65,000 customers in Los Angeles, Kern and Ventura counties lost power Thursday. The Guardian put the number of customers affected at 150,000. The AP-based report noted that some of California's worst wildfires have been sparked by power equipment and that utilities in recent years have begun proactively shutting off power during dry, windy weather. [ 2 , 6 ]
The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for parts of central and Northern California, and the hot, windy conditions were expected to last through Saturday. Meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld said it was a widespread event of elevated fire weather and the whole SoCal region should be on alert. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass directed the fire department to deploy personnel and equipment ahead of the winds, and the department requested help from the state's office of emergency services. [ 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
Utilities in California have in recent years begun shutting off power in dry, windy weather to prevent blazes, and this episode affected tens of thousands of customers. The Los Angeles County fire chief said the fire threat would stay high across the county into the weekend.
Key facts
- A rapidly spreading blaze in Malibu grew to about 200 acres (81 hectares) and prompted evacuation orders and warnings for a large part of the Santa Monica Mountains. [ 2 , 6 ]
- Firefighters also worked to contain fires in Azusa and at Camp Pendleton, which triggered evacuation orders. [ 2 , 6 ]
- Pacific Gas and Electric said nearly 62,000 customers in 26 counties were without power, and Southern California Edison said an additional 65,000 customers in Los Angeles, Kern and Ventura counties lost power. [ 2 ]
- Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said the Bryson fire was 17% contained as of Friday morning. [ 6 ]
- A Red Flag Warning was issued, and hot, windy conditions were expected to last through Saturday. [ 2 , 3 , 6 ]
- Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass directed the fire department to deploy personnel and equipment ahead of the winds. [ 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Brush fires stoked by hot, windy weather burned in Southern California, and utilities shut off electricity for tens of thousands of people. [ 2 , 5 , 6 ]
- The Malibu fire prompted evacuation orders and warnings for a large part of the Santa Monica Mountains and threatened a Los Angeles County juvenile detention and rehabilitative facility. [ 2 , 6 ]
- Fires in Azusa and at Camp Pendleton were being fought by firefighters. [ 2 , 6 ]
- Hot, windy fire-weather conditions were expected to last through Saturday. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Mayor Karen Bass directed the Los Angeles fire department to deploy personnel and equipment ahead of the winds, and the department requested help from the state's office of emergency services. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- How many customers lost power in total. The Guardian reported utilities shut off power to 150,000 customers, while the AP-based Seattle Times report cited nearly 62,000 for Pacific Gas and Electric and 65,000 more for Southern California Edison.
- The number of firefighters working the Bryson fire. The Guardian reported more than 285 firefighters overnight and, in another passage, more than 400 firefighters working to contain the blaze.
- Whether further fires will start as winds increase. The National Weather Service forecast increased wind gusts overnight that could bolster fire activity, and the New York Times headline said winds threaten to spark more fires.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Reuters published a report that Southern California Edison warned of potential wildfire-related power shutoffs. [ 1 ]
- ABC News reported that California was bracing for fire weather and that power shutoffs were starting. [ 3 ]
- The Associated Press reported that a fire prompted evacuations and power shutoffs in California and that wind gusts were set to pick up. [ 4 ]
- The Guardian reported that fires forced evacuations in Southern California and that utilities shut off power to 150,000 customers as a precaution. [ 6 ]
- The New York Times reported that power companies preemptively shut off tens of thousands of homes and businesses on Friday. [ 7 ]