Written by: Nathaniel Mannor
California has been embroiled in wildfires and droughts for years now with no end in sight. Many factors contribute to this phenomenon, such as climate, interactions with nature, and even fire suppression that exacerbates the situation. And right now, the California wildfires threaten us in other ways besides burning.
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), a natural gas and electric utility company based in Northern and Central California, prepares to shut off power to 16 counties on Tuesday night. PG&E made this decision due to drought, dry vegetation, and the high wind speeds that, combined with the power lines, could set these areas ablaze. Other factors include Red Flag warnings from the National Weather Service and observations from the Wildlife Safety Operations Centers and other crews.
This decision impacts 39,000 residents spread across 16 counties, with 27,000 centered in Butte and Shasta counties. The other 14 include Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Napa, Plumas, Sierra, Solano, Sonoma, Tehama, Trinity, Yolo, and Yuba counties. PG&E said that customers would be either via text, email, or voicemail.
Gavin Newsom may not have caused the wildfires, but as governor (at least until the recall), he is responsible for this crisis. His inability to fight these fires while ensuring Californians have adequate power is evidence that he does not care about our great state, especially now as temperatures rise, which puts residents at risk of heatstroke. We deserve a leader who will fight for the safety and security of everyone in California. That’s why on September 14, make sure you vote him out and replace him with a Republican who will get the job done.
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