4,000 Los Angeles Customers Face Potential Power Shutoffs During Record-Breaking Heat Wave

It is getting hot enough to spark concern in the San Gabriel Mountains and the Golden State Freeway and Antelope Valley corridors in northern Los Angeles County. The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for critical wildfire conditions. This alert is in effect from 10 a.m. Tuesday until 3 p.m. Friday. The forecast calls for an extended period of very hot and dry conditions. The combination of triple digit temperatures and very deep mixing heights reaching 12,000 to 20,000 feet creates a volatile environment. Locally gusty winds and low humidities are expected to push fuel levels to critical points. This situation brings the highest risk of large plume dominated fires with rapid spread in the interior mountains and adjacent foothills. The Cuyama Valley is also included in this high-risk area. The NWS notes that these specific weather and fuel conditions have been present during major wildfires in the past including the Bridge Bobcat and Station fires. You can read more about how the heat impacts the region here.

Temperatures are climbing to alarming levels. Some lower elevations will see tops of 100 degrees. The humidity is expected to fall as low as 8 percent with poor overnight recovery. This means the air stays dry for a long time. The Los Angeles Fire Department is boosting its staffing. They are pre-positioning personnel and resources throughout the county. They want to be ready for anything. This proactive approach shows the level of seriousness regarding the Red Flag Warning issuance Tuesday through Friday. Residents in these zones need to pay attention to the sky and the wind. A minor ember can become a major problem when the humidity is low.

For those living near Malibu and the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area or in northern areas such as Castaic and Sandberg the situation gets more complicated. Southern California Edison announced the possibility of Public Safety Power Shutoffs. They are preparing to cut power for nearly 4,000 customers in Los Angeles County. This is a precautionary measure. Officials want to prevent blazes from being sparked by energized electrical lines and equipment during high-fire danger conditions. A power shutoff is a big inconvenience. It can stop the AC and the refrigerator. But it is a safety net that some areas rely on when the wind blows and the grass turns brittle.