Blackouts Spread in California as Blaze Prompts Evacuations
A Los Angeles firefighter douses a smoldering structure with water in Hollywood Hills on Jan. 8.
Photographer: Irfan Khan/ Los Angeles Times/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Southern California’s largest utility has cut power more than 7,600 homes and businesses to prevent live wires from sparking wildfires as high winds rake the drought-weary region.
The outages in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties come as gusts have left much of the area facing critical fire conditions. A 250-acre (100-hectare) blaze on Thursday night in Ventura County forced nearby residents to briefly evacuate.