UPDATE 10 p.m.:
Pacific Gas & Electric says it's turning off the power to tens of thousands of Northern Californians to help reduce the risk of sparking a wildfire as forecasters predict a hot, dry and windy weekend.
The company says it will begin turning off the electricity Saturday morning for 1,600 customers in portions of Napa, Solano and Yolo counties west of Sacramento. The power will be out at least through the afternoon.
PG&E also says it will monitor conditions during the peak fire risk in the Sierra foothills Saturday evening. The company says if necessary, it could cut power to about 30,000 customers there.
The north and the Sierra foothills are where the state's most destructive and deadliest wildfires occurred the last two years.
Downed PG&E power lines and sparking equipment were blamed for previous fires and the utility has been under enormous pressure to avoid another deadly blaze.
Original Story:
People in 8 counties across Northern California could lose electricity on Saturday and Sunday, as Pacific Gas and Electric Company considers turning off power in parts of the North Bay and Sierra foothills.
PG&E says the power shuts offs are needed to reduce the risk of wildfires. PG&E infrastructure has been found to be the cause of several recent California wildfires, including last year's destructive and deadly Camp Fire.
PG&E posted a list of potential locations and the times when power might be shut off.
Sierra foothills
PG&E says a power shutoff could affect about 21,000 customers in the Sierra foothills. Shutoffs are possible starting around 9 p.m. on Saturday. The company says the peak fire risk will last until 10 a.m. on Sunday.
Areas where power might be shut off:
Butte County: Portions of Paradise, Oroville, Bangor, Forest Ranch, Chico, Berry Creek, Palermo
Yuba County: Portions of Browns Valley, Oregon House, Marysville, Wheatland, Rackerby
Nevada County: Portions of Auburn, Grass Valley, Smartville, Rough and Ready, Penn Valley
El Dorado County: Portions of Pilot Hill, Greenwood, Georgetown, Cool
Placer County: Portions of Lincoln
North Bay
A power shut off in the North Bay could affect several thousand customers from around 6 a.m. on Saturday until 1 p.m.
Areas where power might be shut off:
Napa County: Portions of Napa, Lake Berryessa
Solano County: Portions of Suisun City, Vacaville, Winters
Yolo County: Portions of Davis, Winters
PG&E says it will attempt to contact affected customers by telephone, text or email.
RELATED: Q&A on PG&E power shutoff plan
In a news release, PG&E says it is “working with CAL FIRE, Cal OES, and other state and local agencies to help prepare for this potential safety event. The National Weather Service has issued Red Flag Warnings for much of Northern California from Saturday morning until Sunday afternoon.
PG&E earlier released its Public Safety Power Shutoff criteria, factors include:
- A Red Flag Warning declared by the National Weather Service
- Low humidity levels, generally 20 percent and below
- Forecasted sustained winds generally above 25 mph and wind gusts in excess of approximately 45 mph, depending on location and site-specific conditions such as temperature, terrain and local climate
- Condition of dry fuel on the ground and live vegetation (moisture content)
- On-the-ground, real-time observations from PG&E's Wildfire Safety Operations Center and observations from PG&E field crews
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