LOS ANGELES, CA — As the Southland braces for extreme fire danger and another Santa Ana windstorm Thursday, Southern California Edison is considering preemptively shutting down power across a wide swath of Los Angeles County.
Los Angeles County will remain under a red flag warning for extreme fire danger through Friday with high winds and low humidity combining to produce the critical conditions. Earlier this month, Southern California Edison opted not to shut off power in parts of Los Angeles during a Santa Ana wind storm.
That’s when the Saddleridge Fire ignited near a transmission tower, triggering the evacuation of more than 100,000 people.
The cause of that fire remains under investigation. This time, Southern California Edison has temporarily shut off power for 172 customers in the unincorporated Los Angeles County communities of Leona Valley, Hughes Lake, Green Valley. The utility giant is also considering power shutoffs for more than 300,000 customers in its service territories. The move would de-energize power lines in danger of being damaged or downed by strong winds, potentially sparking wildfires.
In Los Angeles County, SCE warned Thursday morning that more than 68,000 customers could lose power.
As of Thursday morning, more than 68,000 customers in Los Angeles County were under consideration for electricity shutoffs, SCE said. Areas in the affected zone include Azusa, Covina, Glendale, Glendora, La Canada- Flintridge, Lancaster, Palmdale, San Dimas, San Fernando, Santa Clarita, Malibu, and unincorporated areas including Rowland Heights, Vincent, Falling Springs, Leona Valley, Lake Hughes, Green Valley, Lake Elizabeth, Cantillas, Canyon Country, Lakeview Terrace, Agua Dulce, Mint Canyon, Chatsworth, Alta Dena, Acton, Singing Springs, Lettau Canyon, White Heather, and Boiling Point, Portal Ridge, Castaic, Mount Disappointment and Mount Wilson, Bell Canyon, Santa Susana, Santa Susana Knolls, La Crescenta-Montrose, Mount Baldy, San Antonio Heights, West Hills, Stevenson Ranch, Santa Clarita Woodlands Park, Along Angeles Crest Highway, Val Verde and Crescenta Valley.
