Red Flag Warning prompts power shutoffs in Redlands

REDLANDS, Calif. — Precautionary power outages continued for many Redlands residents Thursday morning as Southern California Edison (SCE) responded to Red Flag warnings.

Outages began across South Redlands on Wednesday morning, with additional shutoffs reported in pockets of North Redlands. Much of the city has remained under the threat of losing power.

Power in South Redlands, including neighborhoods near the Redlands Country Club, is expected to be restored after 12 p.m. on Jan. 9 as fire conditions improve. However, restoration may take up to eight hours after conditions end to allow for inspections, SCE noted.

The shutoffs are part of SCE’s wildfire prevention measures, which temporarily cut power to high-risk areas during dangerous weather conditions. With one-quarter of SCE’s service area in high-risk fire zones, the utility says PSPS events are a last-resort effort to prevent electrical equipment from igniting wildfires.

As of Jan. 8, approximately 167,177 customers across SCE’s service area were impacted by PSPS events, including 31,242 in San Bernardino County. Other counties with significant outages include Los Angeles (40,200), Riverside (45,390), and Ventura (47,763).

Residents can check the status of power outages and PSPS considerations in their area by visiting SCE’s online Outage Map.

How to support those affected by fires in Los Angeles County

As wildfires continue to devastate parts of Los Angeles County, several organizations are providing support to affected residents. Community members looking to help can donate to the American Red Cross, the California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Relief Fund, the Canine Rescue Club or other options outlined by the Los Angeles Times:

How to help those affected by fires raging across Los Angeles County

Those looking to assist residents affected by the Los Angeles County firestorm have a number of options to donate money, materials or their time.

Los Angeles TimesKaren Garcia

The timing of the shutoffs highlights the ongoing need for wildfire preparedness, even during winter months. While California’s wildfire risk typically peaks in late summer and fall, prolonged dry conditions and unpredictable weather patterns can extend the danger year-round.

For more information on PSPS events and wildfire safety tips, visit SCE’s website.