Hundreds of thousands due to forest fire in California without electricity

In the state of California, up to 850,000 households could be shut down this weekend because of the large-scale forest fires. Affected would be up to 2.1 million people, said the energy provider Pacific Gas & Electric (PG & E) with. In addition, tens of thousands of Californians can not return to their homes, which they had to leave by order of the authorities.

The energy company justified the planned blackouts with the high risk of further fires caused by damaged power lines. From Saturday night, violent wind storms could reach the north of California. This increases the risk that electricity pylons fall over or branches tear off cables and thus cause fire. The forest fire in the northern California village of Paradise, in which 85 people died in November last year, is said to have been caused by defective power lines.

The Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, sharply criticized PG & E. Years of mismanagement and profiteering have led to a dilapidated, vulnerable power grid, Newsom said. The utility company failed to modernize its facilities and make them safer, for example by investing in underground cables. He wanted to hold the company to account, announced the governor.

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Already two weeks ago, the electricity had been shut down for more than 700,000 households. People were in the dark in numerous regions, including in urban areas around San Francisco. Shops and schools remained closed, traffic lights failed. This week, up to 178,000 households were temporarily affected by the shutdowns.

Thousands of firefighters continue to try to stem the fires in Sonoma's northern wine-growing region and Santa Clarita in southern California. So far, there are no reports of the dead and injured, however, the property damage in the fire areas is large. Governor Newsom has declared a state of emergency for the affected regions. In this way funds and helpers can be provided quickly. Now live "in a new world" with droughts, climate change and extreme weather catastrophes, said the Democrat.

In Sonoma County, about 120 kilometers north of San Francisco, the flames have spread over an area of ​​more than 95 square kilometers. 49 buildings, including many residential buildings, were destroyed there. More than 1300 helpers were deployed in the fire area, larger than the area of ​​Manhattan. The so-called "Tick" fire, around 50 kilometers north of Los Angeles, has charred an area of ​​almost 18 square kilometers. According to the fire department burned at least six houses.

After all, there was good news for some of those affected on Friday: Residents who had to leave their homes on Thursday because of the approaching fires may return soon. The fire department announced to lift the first evacuation orders.