DPA
Washington
Over 50,000 homes and businesses in California are without power on Thursday as the electricity authority seeks to prevent wildfires during a heatwave.
The western US state’s Pacific Gas and Electricity Company (PG&E) said it made the power cuts to residents in 24 Northern California counties because high winds combined with low humidity and severely dry vegetation "create a high risk of catastrophic wildfires.” Downed power lines, along with faulty electrical grid infrastructure and trees falling on lines, have caused thousands of wildfires in California, including the 2018 Camp Fire that killed 84 people.
California has seen record-shattering fires this year, with most fires erupting over the past two months. The wildfires have burned more than 16,500 square kilometres, killed 31 people and destroyed 9,200 structures.
Washington
Over 50,000 homes and businesses in California are without power on Thursday as the electricity authority seeks to prevent wildfires during a heatwave.
The western US state’s Pacific Gas and Electricity Company (PG&E) said it made the power cuts to residents in 24 Northern California counties because high winds combined with low humidity and severely dry vegetation "create a high risk of catastrophic wildfires.” Downed power lines, along with faulty electrical grid infrastructure and trees falling on lines, have caused thousands of wildfires in California, including the 2018 Camp Fire that killed 84 people.
California has seen record-shattering fires this year, with most fires erupting over the past two months. The wildfires have burned more than 16,500 square kilometres, killed 31 people and destroyed 9,200 structures.