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California Winds Move South, May Force New Power Outages

Associated Press

   LOS ANGELES - Hot, dry winds sweeping into Southern California raised
   concerns that the region's largest utility could widen power shut-offs
   Friday to prevent its equipment from sparking wildfires, as a new blaze
   swept through the San Fernando Valley's northern foothills.

   Southern California Edison turned off electricity to about 20,000
   people in Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino and Kern counties but
   warned that thousands more could lose service as Santa Ana winds gained
   strength.

   Winds gusted dangerously as forecast before calming in Northern
   California, where Pacific Gas & Electric faced hostility and
   second-guessing over its widespread shut-offs.

   The fire danger spread to Southern California on Thursday as raging
   winds moved down the state.

   A wildfire fueled by Santa Ana winds broke out after 9 p.m. in Los
   Angeles along the 210 Freeway and jumped the highway. Flames also
   crossed the 5 Freeway. The highways were closed because of heavy smoke.
   The so-called Saddleridge fire, which started in Sylmar, had consumed
   more than 4,600 acres by 3 a.m. Friday, fire officials said.

   There were no reports of injuries, but authorities ordered mandatory
   evacuations in the Granada Hills, Porter Ranch and Oakridge Estates
   neighborhoods. Several homes were seen burning in Granada Hills, and
   the Los Angeles fire department said an "unknown number" of homes were
   potentially threatened.

   A blaze also ripped through a mobile home park in Calimesa, a city
   about 65 miles (104 kilometers) east of Los Angeles, destroying dozens
   of residences. The fire started when trash being hauled caught fire and
   the driver dumped the load aside a road, according to Riverside County
   officials. An 89-year-old woman, Lois Arvickson, is missing, according
   to her son.

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