More than 400,000 homes and businesses in California lost power on Wednesday because of several wildfires burning around Los Angeles. The fires, which started on Tuesday, have sadly killed at least five people and destroyed many homes. Around 100,000 people had to leave their homes to stay safe.
Most of the power outages are in Southern California, mainly in Los Angeles. Southern California Edison (SCE), the utility company, said that “by 4 p.m. PST on January 8, about 413,639 SCE customers are without power.” Additionally, 453,872 customers are under a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) notice. This means that power could be shut off to prevent more fires from starting if anything falls on the power lines.
SCE stated that due to unsafe conditions, the power might not come back on for several days. They will restore electricity when it is safe. The company has urged everyone to stay away from any downed power lines.
Because of the wildfires, SCE’s share prices dropped by nearly 14%. The Palisades wildfire has burned over 15,000 acres in the Pacific Palisades area, and other fires have started nearby, including a 10,600-acre fire near Pasadena. More evacuation orders have been issued in parts of Malibu and Santa Monica.
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