Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning Updates

Red Flag Warning Update Posted on Oct. 19, at 3:15 p.m.

As winds subsided and the fire danger diminished, our crews conducted safety patrols in the Sill Hill area just north of Descanso, and restored power to all customers affected by a limited public safety power shutoff, except for two telecommunications facilities at the top of the hill. Power was turned off to about 20 customers early this morning as winds reached 61 miles per hour.

The Red Flag Warning remains in effect through 10 p.m. for all of Orange County and San Diego’s inland valleys and mountains.

Weak Santa Ana winds will continue inland through Saturday with an elevated fire potential forecasted for our region. Please continue to stay on alert and exercise caution with outdoor activities that could spark fires.

 

Red Flag Warning Update Posted Friday, Oct. 19, at 7:40 a.m.

The strongest Santa Ana winds are expected this morning in the mountains and foothills. The weather forecast continues to show low humidity, warm temperatures and extreme fire danger. The Red Flag Warning remains in effect through 10 p.m. tonight.

Our Emergency Operations Center has been activated to closely monitor the weather and fire conditions.

We have field crews on standby if needed. In anticipation of the Red Flag Warning, we pre-staged resources, such as contract firefighters, and field personnel and put them on standby to troubleshoot and coordinate emergency response. Our aerial firefighting resources, including our helitanker, aka SkyMaverick, is ready to go if called upon by Cal Fire to douse flames.

 

Public Safety Power Shutoff

Around 3 a.m. today when winds hit 61 mph, we turned off power for public safety reasons in the Sill Hill area, just north of Descanso. About 20 customers are affected by this public safety power shutoff.

Yesterday, after the Red Flag Warning was declared by the National Weather Service, we notified approximately 3,200 customers in the mountains and foothills of the potential for public safety power shutoffs.

SDG&E remains on high alert and encourages our customers to do the same.

 

Red Flag Warning Update Posted Friday, Oct. 19, at 5:20 a.m.

Due to high winds and extreme fire conditions, we turned off power for public safety reasons in the Sill Hill area north of Descanso early this morning. The public safety power shutoff affected 20 customers.

Yesterday, in response to the National Weather Service declaring a Red Flag Warning for today (3 a.m. to 10 p.m.), we notified approximately 3,200 customers who live in high fire threat districts of the potential for public safety power shutoffs. As more information becomes available, we will provide updates.

 

Red Flag Warning Update Posted Thursday, Oct. 18

Our region is facing another brief spell of extreme fire danger. The National Weather Service has upgraded its Fire Watch to a Red Flag Warning, set to go into effect 3 a.m. Friday and ending at 10 p.m. the same day for San Diego County’s valleys and mountains and Orange County’s coastal and inland zones.

In preparation for the extreme fire potential forecasted for our communities during the Red Flag Warning period, SDG&E has taken the following precautionary steps.

  • Activated plans to staff our Emergency Operations Center starting early Friday morning.
  • Canceled non-essential electrical maintenance work in fire-prone areas.
  • Pre-staged resources, such as contract firefighters, and field personnel to troubleshoot and coordinate emergency response. Our aerial firefighting resources, including our helitanker, aka SkyMaverick, is ready to go if called upon by Cal Fire to douse flames.
  • Established plan to notify customers who live in high-wind, high fire zones about the potential for public safety power shutoffs due to weather and fire conditions. Outbound dialer calls are scheduled to go out today and updates will be provided to customers in follow-up calls, as more information becomes available.

 

Santa Wind Forecast

Our meteorologists expect Santa Ana winds to start ramping up in the backcountry after sunrise tomorrow morning and peak mid to late morning. Widespread wind gusts of 35-45 mph will develop across the backcountry early Friday with locally higher winds in the usual wind-prone areas. Through the afternoon, winds will diminish.

Some of the locations that are expected to see high winds include Sill Hill in the north Descanso area, Hellhole Canyon and Crestwood. If you live in a windy area, please secure loose items in your patio or backyard. Flying debris is a hazard, as it can get tangled up in power lines and cause outages.

During the Red Flag Warning period, the fire potential is forecast to be extreme in our inland communities, in particular the far eastern portions of our region. Coastal areas will also experience elevated fire risk.

 

Sign Up for Alerts

SDG&E has developed a dedicated webpage, sdge.com/wildfire-safety, to help our communities get prepared for wildfires and other emergencies. On this web page, you can learn more about public safety power shutoffs, emergency alert notifications, as well as resources that we have put into place to help our communities.

Sign up for alerts via sdge.com/myaccount. Be sure your contact information is updated in MyAccount. Via this portal, you can indicate your notification preference – email, text or call.