Santa Ana Winds Trigger Power Shutoffs, Evacuations Across LA County

Thousands of Angelenos are experiencing power shutoffs as strong Santa Ana winds increase wildfire risk across Southern California. Southern California Edison (SCE) had cut power to over 63,000 customers across the region as of Thursday afternoon, October 15th, with nearly 58,000 of those in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, according to secretlosangeles.com. An estimated 220,000 more customers could face outages as conditions develop.

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, in effect through 8 p.m. Saturday, October 17th. Wind gusts could reach up to 70 mph in mountain areas, accompanied by low humidity and high temperatures, which can cause new wildfires to spread rapidly. Firefighters were actively battling blazes in Malibu and Azusa on Friday morning, October 16th, secretlosangeles.com reported.

SCE implements these temporary power shutoffs as a preventive measure to reduce the risk of electrical equipment sparking fires during high winds. These shutoffs can affect neighborhoods even if there isn't a fire burning nearby. According to secretlosangeles.com, power restoration can take more than eight hours after conditions improve, as crews must inspect power lines and equipment before service is reconnected.

As of Thursday afternoon, 33,214 customers in Los Angeles County were affected by shutoffs, with an additional 71,279 in Los Angeles County under consideration for potential outages, according to web search facts. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) does not currently conduct preemptive Public Safety Power Shutoffs. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has directed the fire department to deploy personnel and equipment in anticipation of the winds.

Need to know

• A Red Flag Warning is in effect for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties through 8 p.m. Saturday, October 17th.
• Topanga Canyon Boulevard is closed to nonresidents between Pacific Coast Highway and Mulholland Drive until 10 p.m. Friday, according to web search facts.
• Parks within the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area are closed Thursday through Saturday.
• Residents can check their address for current or potential shutoffs and sign up for notifications through Southern California Edison's Public Safety Power Shutoff page.

The AKUSO take: Angelenos should stay informed this weekend, as these conditions are affecting travel, outdoor activities, and basic utilities across a wide area. Charge devices and have an emergency plan ready, especially if you live in a high-risk zone.