The number of California homes and businesses without electricity ballooned to more than 400 000 on Wednesday, as multiple wildfires raged uncontrollably around Los Angeles.that started on Tuesday have killed at least five people, destroying hundreds of homes and stretching firefighting resources and water supplies to the limit, as more than 100 000 people were ordered to evacuate.
SCE, a subsidiary of US utility Edison International operating in California, said in a statement that “as of 4 p.m. PST on January 8, about 413 639 SCE customers are without power… and 453 872 customers are under a Public Safety Power Shutoff program watch.” So-called power safety shutoffs happen, in part, to reduce the risk that airborne objects spark additional blazes when they strike power lines, said company spokesperson Jeff Monford, who implored the public to stay away from any downed lines.