Sunday, October 13, 2019

Wildfire Threat Diminishes for Parts of California; Thousands Remain Under Evacuation Order

The red flag fire warnings that had blanketed much of California earlier in the week have been lifted for many parts of the state, although evacuations remained in effect for areas where two deadly wildfires were still burning Saturday.
Of the estimated 738,000 homes and businesses that had electricity cut off by Pacific Gas & Electric as the fire threat intensified Wednesday, 98% had their power restored by Friday night, the utility said in a press release. Only about 13,000 remained without power.
At least two deaths were being blamed on the fires, and news reports said a separate death may be connected to the widespread power outages in California this week.
Flames from the Saddleridge Fire, which started about 9 p.m. local time Thursday in Sylmar, crossed over the 210 Freeway and later the 5 Freeway. Both highways were closed because of smoke. Interstate 405 was closed at State Road 118, and the 14 Freeway also closed.The fire spread to about 12 square miles in the northern foothills of the San Fernando Valley. It was and was 19% contained by Saturdya morning. The Los Angeles Fire Department deemed the fire a "Major Emergency," the highest classification there is for a fire emergency.At a news conference Friday, Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas blamed the fire for the death of a man who died of a heart attack overnight. Terrazas said one firefighter had a slight eye injury.
Officials ordered mandatory evacuations for more than 23,000 homes in the Porter Ranch, Granada Hills and Oakridge Estates neighborhoods. The order covers about 100,000 people, officials said.



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