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California utility cuts power to 1 million over fire threat

Posted at 1:37 AM, Oct 24, 2020
and last updated 2020-10-24 01:37:04-04

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) says it will cut power to some 1 million people this weekend in central and Northern California, which could see the most dangerous fire weather of the season.

PG&E says it will begin safety shutoffs Sunday morning as gusts and low humidity ramp up the risk of downing power lines and sparking massive fires in tinder-dry brush.

The shutoffs in 38 counties could last into Tuesday.

PG&E equipment has been blamed for sparking some of the most devastating fires in recent years, including a 2018 blaze in Butte County that killed 85 people.

This year, wildfires already have destroyed some 9,200 buildings and killed 31 people.