In response to dangerous winds and severe fire weather, Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in Southern California to help communities facing the ongoing wildfires. The region is dealing with “life-threatening” conditions and an elevated risk of fires spreading rapidly.
While visiting Pacific Palisades today, Governor Newsom met with fire officials to discuss the response to the fast-moving Palisades Fire. The fire has already burned more than 1,260 acres and forced thousands of residents to evacuate.
The Governor has also announced that California secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) from FEMA to ensure critical resources are available to fight the blaze.
“This is a highly dangerous windstorm that’s creating extreme fire risk — and we’re not out of the woods. We’re already seeing the destructive impacts with this fire in Pacific Palisades that grew rapidly in a matter of minutes,” said Governor Newsom in a statement. “Our deepest thanks go to our expert firefighters and first responders who jumped quickly into fighting this dangerous fire. If you’re in Southern California, please pay attention to weather reports and follow any guidance from emergency officials.”
Current SoCal Edison Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS)
Southern California Edison (SCE) has implemented Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) in high-risk areas to reduce fire hazards. The following customers are currently without power:
- Los Angeles County: 13,905 customers
- Orange County: 64 customers
- Riverside County: 731 customers
- Ventura County: 2,968 customers
Potential Future Shutoffs
SCE is considering additional shutoffs affecting up to 439,208 customers across the region:
- Kern County: 3,254 customers
- Los Angeles County: 110,720 customers
- Orange County: 27,446 customers
- Riverside County: 125,919 customers
- San Bernardino County: 69,705 customers
- Santa Barbara County: 4,182 customers
- Ventura County: 97,982 customers
Residents are urged to prepare for potential outages and remain informed about the status of power in their areas. To see if there are any outages in your area, you can check out SoCal Edison’s outage map here.
Severe Weather Conditions And Fire Risk
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a High Wind Warning and a Red Flag Fire Warning across Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Diego, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties. With gusts reaching up to 100 miles per hour in Los Angeles County, the conditions are ripe for rapid fire spread and extreme fire behavior. You can read more about these severe weather conditions and fire risks here.
Staying Safe During Wildfires
To help residents navigate these challenges, we’ve created a comprehensive wildfire safety guide with critical resources and tips:
- Stay Informed: Follow local news, weather updates, and emergency notifications. Sign up for alerts from Listos California here.
- Prepare Your Home: Clear flammable vegetation and debris around your property. Use fire-resistant materials for roofing and siding.
- Create an Evacuation Plan: Identify multiple evacuation routes, establish a communication plan with family or housemates, and assemble an emergency kit.
- Follow Evacuation Orders: If authorities issue evacuation orders, leave immediately. Delaying could put lives at risk. For county-specific fire resources, visit:
Please check out the full fire safety guide here. You can receive emergency updates from Ready LA here.
Southern California residents should remain vigilant as high winds and dry conditions persist through Thursday evening. Stay prepared, stay safe to take proactive steps to protect yourself and your loved ones during this critical time.