Fires Explode Across California From Wine Country Vineyards To Southern California Subdivisions

(LA Times) Phil Willon Taryn Luna Hannah Fry Alejandra Reyes-Velarde October 24 2019 Fueled by violent winds from the northeast fires erupted on dry hills across California tearing through oaks and vineyards in Sonoma County and burning homes hundreds of miles away in subdivisions near Santa Clarita. The extreme weather conditions will continue into this weekend heightening both the fire threat and the likelihood of more widespread power outages as utilities try to prevent electrical lines from sparking more blazes. As the winds swept into California on Wednesday night an eruption of fires big and small followed: first Northern California wine country then San Bernardino Orange County Marin County Santa Clarita Eagle Rock and the San Fernando Valley. Firefighters were able to control some while others exploded out of control. The Kincade fire started Wednesday night and consumed more than 16000 acres of northern Sonoma County pushed by wind gusts higher than 70 mph and forcing the evacuation of Geyserville and other parts of the famed Alexander Valley wine region and burning about 50 structures. If youre in Geyserville leave now" the Sonoma County Sheriffs Office said in an advisory Thursday morning. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. had shut off power to thousands because of dangerous wind conditions. Its unclear whether utility lines played a role in the Sonoma County blaze but an incident report from PG&E said a transmission line failure occurred near Kincade and Burned Mountain roads at 9:20 p.m. Wednesday around the time the fire was first reported.