SoCal Edison Could Shut Off Power To 139K Southland Customers Due To Fire Danger

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Southern California Edison warned Tuesday that it could shut off power this week to more than 139,000 customers this week across the Southland due to elevated fire danger caused by gusty Santa Ana winds.

SoCal Edison reported that because of the elevated fire risk, it may choose to shut off power to as many as 49,400 customers in Los Angeles County. That would include areas such as Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Lancaster, San Fernando, Malibu, Pasadena and Chatsworth.

Another nearly 41,000 customers could lose power in San Bernardino County, along with more than 21,300 customers in Riverside County and 7,250 in Orange County.

Power could also be shut off to 23,100 customers in Ventura County.

A small brush fire broke out Tuesday morning off Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Greenleaf Canyon Road in Topanga. L.A. County Fire Department crews responded and quickly halted its forward progress.

Due to gusty Santa Ana winds coupled with very low humidity, the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for most of L.A. and Ventura counties that begins early Thursday morning and runs through Friday evening.

Wind gusts could be between 45 and 70 miles per hour Thursday.

SoCal Edison issued a similar outage warning last month.

Meanwhile, Pacific Gas & Electric announced it would be shutting off power for about 800,000 customers in Northern and Central California beginning early Wednesday morning due to severe winds.

For a full list of cities and maps of the affected neighborhoods for the possible SoCal Edison shutoff, click here.