US News California wildfires: Over two million face looming blackouts

© Getty A building is engulfed in flames at a vineyard

More than two million residents in Northern and Central California face having their power supplies cut off in the largest planned power outage in the region, aimed at preventing the spread of wildfires.

The state's largest utility, Pacific Gas & Electric, said it has notified customers in 36 counties that it may cut power on Saturday night until midday on Monday, as forecasters predicted the strongest winds in years across the region.

© Getty A firefighter hops over a locked gate near the Tick fire in Southern California

The wildfires have already forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes and destroyed dozens of buildings in the wine country of northern California and in subdivisions on the outskirts of Los Angeles.

Hurricane-force winds intensify California wildfires as nearly 200,000 evacuate

Hurricane-force winds, some with gusts topping 100 mph, sent multiple wildfires hurtling across California, leading to a statewide emergency.Turbocharged by winds reaching hurricane force, wildfires whipped across Northern California on Sunday, burning tens of thousands of acres, driving almost 200,000 people from their homes and seriously injuring a firefighter.

Millions of Californians are told to prepare for further power outages as wildfires wreak havoc across the length of the country’s most populous state. High winds and unfavorable weather conditions caused a string of wildfires to continue burning throughout the state of California Friday into Saturday.

Where to Invest Million . 1.5 million people could be affected as PG&E again cuts power to some homes and businesses in an effort to prevent wildfires (Source: TicToc).

California was under extreme fire danger like it had probably never seen before, Emergency Services Director Mark Ghilarducci said.

At least 50,000 have fled their homes in the foothills north of Los Angeles, with winds of up to 40mph fanning the flames and creating huge plumes of smoke in the Santa Clarita area.

© Getty Embers fly off a tree as a bulldozer prepares to help fight the fire near Geyserville

At least six homes have been destroyed, and officials said the number is expected to rise.

In the state's upmarket wine country in Sonoma County, 2,000 people were ordered to evacuate after a damaged electricity tower sparked a fire.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co admitted one of its transmission towers had malfunctioned at about the time and location of the fire's origin on Wednesday night.

Nearly 200,000 people have fled their homes in California's Sonoma County as the Kincade Fire continues to grow

The Kincade Fire in California's Sonoma County has burned 73,324 acres. PG&E told regulators that a broken jumper cable may have started the blaze.The Kincade Fire, which ignited in California's Sonoma County on October 23, has torn through an estimated 73,324 acres - an area roughly the size of Orlando, Florida.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Millions of Californians are preparing to live in the dark again after the state's largest utility warned it may cut power for the third time in as many weeks because of looming strong winds and high fire danger. Pacific Gas & Electric will decide Saturday whether to blackout

California wine country fires expand, trigger blackouts 24.10.2019. A fire in one of California 's wine growing regions could leave half a million A wildfire that began in inland California on Thursday night has now reached Los Angeles. Firefighters are scrambling to contain the out -of-control blaze.

The Sonoma blaze - known as the Kincade fire - has affected around 10,000 acres.

The fire near Geyserville, famous for its nearby hot springs, has burned at least 49 buildings and 34 square miles, prompting evacuation orders for some 2,000 people.

"I just visited a number of structures that were destroyed," said Governor Gavin Newsom, who declared a state of emergency. "Familiar sights to all of us, devastating sights to those impacted lives literally torn asunder."

No immediate casualties have been reported.

Two years ago, 44 people died in wildfires in the same area of Northern California.