PG&E warns of power shutoffs in parts of Bay Area Wednesday and Thursday due to heat
PG&E says around 7,800 customers could be affected by Public Safety Power Shutoffs Wednesday and Thursday due to fire concerns. That includes customers in 10 counties and more than 2,000 customers in Marin County.
Tree trimming crews working a 14-hour shift to get branches off of power lines could be seen in Mill Valley Tuesday afternoon. That as we are now inching our way closer to a planned Public Safety Power Shutoff starting at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Mill Valley.
"My apartment is just outside of the zone that's gonna shut the power off but I got the Nixle alert. I was assuming I was gonna lose power so I ran down and got ice," said Jaya Godwin.
She lives in Mill Valley, understands the fire concerns, but is angered that it's even come to this.
"There's no way they should have bare wires running over this mountain. I used to live in Arizona and the decision was made 20 years ago to start undergrounding, the same thing in San Diego, you have to start the process and instead we're almost 10 years and PG&E has started nothing," said Godwin.
To clarify, in 2026 PG&E put three miles of power lines underground in Marin County, but the work to put 16 miles of wires underground in Mill Valley is set to begin next year.
Others we spoke in the area say they feel prepared.
"I have solar panels and I have a battery. My solar will do I think about half my house, so I know my heater is on it and my refrigerator and the TV so we'll see," said Jessie Scott of Mill Valley.
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Those from PG&E called this a special situation during a press conference on Tuesday.
One with hot temperatures, dry conditions, and strong wind gusts.
"We have the marine layer being suppressed and offshore thanks to that big ridge of pressure, but then we get the return of those winds and concurrent that creates a kind of special situation where northwest winds can actually bring elevated fire conditions," said PG&E meteorologist Evan Duffey.
In Marin County the goal is to get the power back on by 10 am Thursday morning, but in recent years and in other counties, we've seen major delays during this process.
Hot, dry conditions put North Bay firefighters on alert after two Wine Country wildfires
Hot temperatures and drying vegetation have North Bay firefighters on alert after two wildfires sparked Monday in Wine Country, serving as an early warning of the fire danger that comes with summer conditions.
One of those fires broke out near Hood Mountain Regional Park in eastern Santa Rosa, prompting evacuations for some Oakmont residents. Firefighters from Cal Fire and Santa Rosa Fire quickly stopped the fire's forward progress, limiting it to about 16 acres of rugged terrain.
For Oakmont residents Tim and Peggy, the sight of flames on a nearby hillside brought back difficult memories.
"We came out and the whole side of the mountain was lit up," Tim said.
The couple watched firefighters quickly gain control of the situation.
"Within an hour you could see they were on top of it and had it under control," Tim said. "This is nothing compared to the last one, which jumped the highway and came into our subdivision here."
He was referring to the devastating Tubbs Fire in 2017, which destroyed thousands of homes across Sonoma County.
"It was unnerving, given the history here," Peggy said. "We were waiting for developments."
Meanwhile, firefighters in Napa County battled the Hardin Fire in Pope Valley. Crews stopped that fire at 79 acres, and no homes were threatened.
Santa Rosa Fire Marshal Paul Lowenthal said the region's weather has shifted rapidly in recent weeks, creating conditions favorable for wildfire starts.
"We saw our weather conditions change quickly," Lowenthal said.
After a stretch of cool, foggy weather, temperatures have climbed while humidity levels have dropped, leaving grasses and other vegetation extremely dry.
"We obviously are concerned with the heat, humidities and the potential for any winds that have the potential for ignitions, which increases fire danger," Lowenthal said.
He said dry seasonal grasses are now acting as readily available fuel, making it critical for residents to remain vigilant and prepared.
"Obviously we don't want to see any sparks or ignitions, but at the same time it's a good reminder for the community why we ask them to be prepared," Lowenthal said.
Oakmont resident Mark Randol says he takes wildfire threats seriously and stays ready to evacuate if necessary.
"I always pay attention," Randol said. "If it looks like it's getting out of hand, I'm going to be one of the first ones out of here, not waiting for an evacuation order."
Fire officials are encouraging residents to review evacuation plans, sign up for emergency alerts and keep emergency go-bags ready as the North Bay enters the heart of fire season.
