Power shutoffs hit Ventura County as Santa Anas arrive
Thousands of Ventura County customers of Southern California Edison had power cut off for hours on Saturday due to a Santa Ana wind event.
Thousands continued to be considered for possible shutoffs as of 7:45 p.m., although winds were subsiding.
The so-called "public safety power shutoffs" were executed for a time Saturday after initially coming into play Friday night. The possible cuts applied to circuits in Ventura, Somis, Simi Valley, Moorpark and Piru. To see which circuits are at risk of being shut off, visit sce.com/outage-center/check-outage-status.
Such shutoffs are meant to reduce the risk of potential brush fires igniting from electrical equipment during critical fire conditions, Edison and other utilities say.
By 6 p.m. Saturday, all Ventura County customers had power restored, according to Edison's list. Earlier in the day, more than 5,000 customers around Moorpark, Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley had power cut. The number later dropped to about 2,400.
Some 10,190 Ventura County customers were still being considered for possible cuts as of 7:45 p.m.
In Los Angeles County, additional Edison customers also had circuits shut down and monitored during the wind event.
The National Weather Service had issued a countywide red flag warning beginning at 1 a.m. Saturday due to Santa Ana winds that were forecast to bring gusts up to 50 mph to the region. Red flag conditions indicate dangerous fire conditions where blazes can spread rapidly and behave erratically amid dry, gusty winds.
Joe Sirard, a meteorologist with the weather service, said Friday incoming winds were expected to be slightly weaker than Santa Ana winds that buffeted the area on Wednesday.
The red flag warning was set to expire at 10 p.m. Saturday along the coast and at 10 a.m. Sunday for inland valleys and mountains.
Santa Ana winds were expected to continue through Sunday, though at intensities below advisory levels.
Edison hosted two customer resource centers, one in Moorpark and one in Simi Valley, to provide comfort services for those affected by shutoffs.
As of Saturday night, only the Moorpark center remained open.
Moorpark's center is at Arroyo Vista Community Park, 4550 Tierra Rejada Road. Edison's site indicated the center would stay open until 10 p.m., although it could possibly close earlier.
The other location, at the Simi Valley Senior Center, closed earlier Saturday.
More information about the potential shutoffs and resource center hours can be found by visiting vcemergency.com and sce.com/wildfire/psps.
This story may be updated.
Jeremy Childs is a general assignment reporter covering courts, crime and breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at 805-437-0208, jeremy.childs@vcstar.com, and on Twitter @Jeremy_Childs.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Public safety power shutoffs possible for Ventura County
