Hundreds of thousands lose power as Northern California controls more wildfires

Millions of people lost power in dozens of California districts on Sunday, with weather forecasters forecasting the most powerful winds of the year and the possibility of more wildfires, officials said.

Pacific Gas & Electric, which supplies electricity to millions of people across northern and central California, cut off power to 225,000 customers Sunday night, utility incident commander Mark Quinlan said. He said another 136,000 people would lose power by midnight.

The crash is expected to hit 36 ​​districts, he said.

The company that pleaded guilty This year was due to the worst wildfires in the state, Has taken to shutting down its electrical phase to prevent its equipment from igniting new fires.

“Unfortunately, this event will turn out as forecast,” company meteorologist Scott Strenfell told reporters Sunday night.

Earlier, forecasters with the National Weather Service said strong winds were expected this year Expected in some parts of the state until Monday. With low humidity and tinder dry plants, the agency placed most of Northern California Under its high-risk wildfire warning, Red flag alert.

Strenfell said winds could reach 70 mph in some areas.

Climate scientist Daniel Swain with UCLA, Said“

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Thousands of fires have burned more than 4 million acres in California this year, topping 1 million acres and spreading across six districts, including the largest wildfire in state history. Thirty-one people have died and more than 9,000 buildings have been destroyed.

Forecasters also forecast strong winds and low humidity in southern California. The Southern California Edition, one of the region’s utilities, said it was considering power cuts for 71,000 customers starting Monday.

Officials and experts have blamed the state’s record wildfire season Climate change And Forest management practices for decades This allowed dead and dried plants to grow in the vast forests of the state.