LOS ANGELES, CA (KMJ) – Governor Gavin Newsom held a press conference in Los Angeles, Thursday morning on the fires and ongoing public safety power shutoffs.
The governor, standing with Cal Fire officials, emergency response and health and human services leaders, chastised the utilities for the power outages.
More than half a million people in California are without power as hot weather, strong winds and fast-moving wildfires flare up across the state.
Southern California Edison has shut off power to more than 15,500 customers in five counties — Kern, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Ventura.
About 179,000 Pacific Gas & Electric Co. customers in 17 counties have also lost power.
The latest round of power outages are expected to last at least through Thursday afternoon, but the utility also says a third round of forced outages may be needed this weekend.
Northern California is fighting more new fires, the Muir Fire in Marin County and the Spring Fire, holding at 3 acres, officials have not called it contained yet.
