Large number of SoCal Edison customers stayed without power Friday after the utility gave precautionary blackouts this week to prevent wildfires.
Dry, windy conditions around the Southland incited SCE to stop capacity to in excess of 73,000 clients on Thanksgiving Day.
As per SCE’s site, in excess of 40,000 clients were still without power starting at 9 a.m. Friday in the accompanying provinces:
Los Angeles: 12,333
Orange: 1,496
Riverside: 12,857
San Bernardino: 3,458
Ventura: 10,579
SCE spokesperson Gabriela Ornelas said the power shutoffs are ordered only after all other options to prevent fires have been exhausted.
“Public safety power shut offs are an apparatus after all other options have run out that we use to ensure our clients,” Ornelas said.
Out of control fires can start and spread rapidly in the midst of dry and blustery conditions. Wind blasts arrived at 70 mph in certain spaces Thursday.
Red flag warnings are in place until 6 p.m. Friday for parts of Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, according to the National Weather Service.
Warnings might be reached out into the end of the week as hazardous fire conditions could proceed for some areas.
Local fire departments have increased their staffing this week to quickly douse any wildfires that may start.
Residents in high fire risk regions are approached to be prepared to clear if necessary.