Southern California Wildfire Erupts Near Reagan Library

(Associated Press) JOHN ANTCZAK and JOCELYN GECKER October 30 2019 LOS ANGELES A large new wildfire broke out in Southern California amid high winds Wednesday forcing the evacuation of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and nearby homes as both ends of the state struggled with blazes dangerously gusty weather and deliberate blackouts. The brush fire started just before dawn in the Simi Valley area north of Los Angeles. Ventura County officials did not immediately say how big it was or how many people were ordered to leave. Reagan library spokeswoman Melissa Giller said the hilltop museum in Simi Valley was safe and being protected by firefighters. She said hundreds of goats are brought in each year to eat away vegetation that could fuel wildfires on the 300-acre (120-hectare) grounds. Meanwhile frustration and anger mounted across Northern California as Pacific Gas & Electric Co. the states largest utility undertook its third round of sweeping blackouts in a week hoping to prevent its electrical equipment from toppling or coming into contact with branches and sparking fires. PG&E said Tuesdays power shut-offs would affect about 1.5 million people in some 30 counties including the Sierra foothills wine country and San Francisco Bay Area. They included 1 million still without power from a blackout over the weekend.