PG&E shuts power of 16,000 Bay Area residents as winds intensify and fire danger looms
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (KGO) -- As winds intensify throughout the Bay Area, approximately 16,000 PG&E customers are without power. A planned strategy by the utility to prevent fires.
"This PSPS is due to the very powerful winds combined with dry conditions and other factors that we take into account. We saw gusts of 88 miles per hour in the North Bay so we are certainly seeing these elements combing together. It's for the safety of our customers," said PG&E spokesperson Tamar Sarkissian.
In the East Bay, Oakland Battalion Chief Ryan Meineke confirmed crews are ready for deployment.
Luz Pena: "What are those problematic areas you guys are focused on right now?"
Ryan Meineke: "Well, in the county the hill areas have wind speeds up to above 60 miles an hour, we have gusts going up as crazy. Everywhere is equal concern wildland urban, interface areas are a concern. Our concerns are populated areas where there could be evacuations and wildfires that encroach into urban homes and areas."
Almost three weeks ago, nearly 33 years after the Oakland Hills Firestorm, a vegetation fire broke out in the Oakland Hills damaging two homes with 500 residents evacuated. We caught up with one of those residents on Wednesday as fire danger looms.
MORE: Remaining evacuated residents in Oakland Hills fire allowed back home Sunday night
"It's unbelievable, just the fact that our house caught on fire and we still have to think about it catching fire again. It's unimaginable," said Oakland resident Phillip Cole.
This is the reality that many in the East Bay live with.
"My father and his wife ran for his life in 1991 in the fire that devastated this entire area. This community has been brought together by fire, by wind in particular and so we have rebuilt but that doesn't mean it couldn't happen again," said East Bay resident Karl Strovink.
The latest wind event is a dire reminder to always be ready.
"I have my bags packed, all valuables put away," said Strovink.
One of the only things we could see on one Walnut Creek street Wednesday night was a dog lit in green LED lights.
"We had no idea when it was coming really, and all of a sudden it's just like, I'm trying to make breakfast for my kids and everything is out," said Paige Buccine.
Buccine, her husband, and four kids have had their power cut nearly five times since they moved to Walnut Creek in March.
Using a flashlight, Buccine showed ABC7 News where her makeshift refrigerator is outside in this case it's a couple of ice-filled coolers.
"My husband and I were just talking about how we feel, kind of like we're being held hostage because we don't know when it's going to go down and literally, we're like sitting around with our four kids with light bulbs and flashlights everywhere," said Buccine.
They have no power, yet Northgate High School, which is in sight of their home has no shortage of power whatsoever.
"At this point, because we are new to the neighborhood I would say we're kind of more confused and interested in why this is happening particularly in this neighborhood," she said.
From Buccine's front yard, you can see the massive tree across the street, and then the power lines below.
The one thing we noticed walking through the neighborhood where the power is off, is just how dark it is, hard to see much of anything without a flashlight.
It's a reason why Buccine says they've attempted to get solar.
"My husband is actually a solar engineer and we've been trying to get solar on the house but the city has been giving us a hard time about permitting it," she said.
The good news though, PG&E says the power should be back on Wednesday -- weather permitting.
"Even right now it's like, not windy," said ABC7 News reporter J.R. Stone.
"Yeah, so it's like where's our power now?" said Buccine.
"Well, I give you credit because you haven't pulled out your hair yet?" said Stone.
"Not yet," said Buccine with a laugh.
PG&E confirmed there are about 7,500 customers in the Bay Area also affected by power outages. They said those were due to the wind event, not the PSPS.
The utility is planning to restore everyone's power by Thursday if weather conditions improve.
