California’s devastating Kincade Fire sparks evacuation order for 50,000 as ‘historic’ 75mph gales spread inferno
AN evacuation order for 50,000 Californians was issued on Saturday as raging wildfires whipped up by “historic” 75mph winds continued to spread.
The devastating Kincade Fire has already scorched 25,000 acres in Northern California’s famed wine country.
And last night the state’s largest utility company began emergency blackouts affecting 2.35 million people.
Two previous blackouts were carried out amid concern that gusts could knock down power lines and spark more devastating wildfires.
Gales were expected to reach 75mph as part of a “historic” wind event, the National Weather Service said.
The winds could lead to “erratic fire behaviour,” warned the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
WAVE OF BLACKOUTS
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) said a new wave of blackouts started Saturday evening.
It affected about 940,000 homes and businesses in 36 counties for 48 hours or longer.
The city of San Francisco was not in line for a blackout – but shut-offs were ordered for most of the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area.
The wine country to the north and the Sierra foothills were also affected.
The entire communities of Healdsburg and Windsor were ordered to evacuate ahead of strong winds sweeping in last night.
HISTORIC EVACUATION
It would be the biggest evacuation in the Sonoma county in more than 25 years, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said.
The wind event will peak early on Sunday and is likely to be the strongest in several years, said PG&E meteorologist Scott Strenfel.
He said last night: “It’s likely that many trees will fall, branches will break,” raising the risk of damage to utility infrastructure.
Bone-dry air from humidity levels in the single-figures will also allow the flames to spread.
PG&E’s shut-off order came as firefighters battled fires in Northern and Southern California.
A wildfire destroyed at least six houses in the Santa Clarita area north of Los Angeles on Thursday.
It led to evacuation orders for up to 50,000 residents, although nearly all were allowed back home after Santa Ana winds began to ease.
Sheriff’s officials said human remains were found within the wide burn area, but it’s too soon to know if the death is connected to the blaze. The Tick fire was 25 per cent contained last night.
Across the border in Mexico, three people died in wind-whipped wildfires in the northwestern state of Baja California.
‘DIABLO WINDS’
To the north, firefighters raced to make progress against a blaze near Geyserville in Sonoma County before ferocious “diablo winds” returned.
The Kincade Fire had burned 49 buildings, including 21 homes, and swept through nearly 40 square miles of the wine-growing region.
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It was 11 per cent contained by early this morning and three people were injured so far – including one firefighter.
No cause has been determined for any of the current fires.
But PG&E – who have been slammed over the blackouts – admitted a transmission line near Geyserville had malfunctioned minutes before that fire erupted on Wednesday night.