Why Los Angeles and San Francisco Are Safe From Mass Blackouts

Fog, pavement help protect the cities from wind-driven fires
Hilly suburbs in both metropolitan areas aren’t so lucky

Homes stand during a blackout in Sausalito, California on Oct. 29.Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg

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By David R Baker

October 30, 2019 at 9:07 PM UTC

Updated on

October 31, 2019 at 11:01 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Swaths of Southern California are being plunged into darkness on purpose to prevent power lines from sparking fires during the state’s latest windstorm.

But the lights are staying on in Los Angeles.