Red flag warning continues, Redlands school board to discuss flag ban, The Unforgettables Foundation founder transitions leadership
Proposed changes would allow only U.S. and California flags and put guidelines in place over district holiday observances, events, and celebrations
Across the district, about 20% of K-8 students are chronically absent, with some schools hitting nearly 40%.
Why public safety shutoffs are happening and how to stay safe during high wind events
Originally published 01/09 at 10:53 am. Latest update 01/10 at 9:40 a.m. This is a developing story, and updates will be posted here.
REDLANDS, Calif. — Precautionary power outages continued for many Redlands residents Friday 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.
Fire conditions were expected to improve in parts of South Redlands by Thursday afternoon, but high winds intensified later in the evening, causing widespread power outages that are expected to last into Friday.
The National Weather Service extended the Red Flag Warning for Redlands through Friday evening.
Even once fire conditions improve, 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 a public safety power shutoff, we activate these only during periods of concern due to wind events combined with dry vegetation," Gabriela Ornelas, SCE spokesperson, told KCVR reporter Anthony Victoria.
With one-quarter of SCE’s service area in high-risk fire zones, public safety power shutoff events are a last-resort effort to prevent electrical equipment from igniting wildfires.
Once the shutoff is activated, it remains in effect for the duration of the wind event. "So once we see conditions subside, then our crews will take the time to inspect all of the infrastructure because before we energize our lines, we have to make sure that they're safe for us to do so," Ornelas said.
As of Jan. 9, approximately 194,537 customers across SCE’s service area were impacted by PSPS events, including 34,673 in San Bernardino County. Other counties with significant outages include Los Angeles (34,577), Riverside (87,865), and Ventura (32,278).
Residents can check the status of power outages and PSPS considerations in their area by visiting SCE’s online Outage Map.
Ornelas emphasized public safety during wind events, particularly the dangers posed by downed power lines, which may still be energized.
“The first and most important safety consideration for the public during a wind event is downed power lines." She urged residents to call 9-1-1 and keep a safe distance from wires or anything in contact with them.
Ornelas also provided preparedness tips for dealing with power outages, including keeping flashlights handy, knowing how to manually operate garage doors or gates, maintaining at least a half-full gas tank, and writing down important contact information in case phones lose power.
She acknowledged the challenges of power outages and reassured customers that SCE is working to restore power as quickly as possible.
"We know losing power at any time and for any length of time is a hardship for our customers, but we want them to know that we do work as quickly as it's safely for us to do so to bring their power back on."
As wildfires continue to devastate parts of Los Angeles County, several organizations are providing support to affected residents.
Redlands coffee shop, Slow Bloom Coffee Co-op (420 W Colton Ave) is collecting donations this weekend Jan. 10 - 11 to help those affected by the wildfires.
Items to donate include water, shelf-stable food, pet food, undergarments/socks, clothing, shoes, blankets, sleeping pads, first aid kits, feminine products, toiletries, general hygiene, portable chargers, N95 Masks, gloves, and towels.
Olive Avenue Market (530 W Olive Avenue) is collecting items for wildfire victims through the weekend. In a post on social media, the coffee house said the donation will be delivered to K-town YMCA on Monday.
They are accepting donations of clothing, water, protein bars, blankets, hygiene products, single-use utensils, zip-lock bags, and pet food.
The local non-profit Stronger Together Now accepts donations on behalf of YMCA LA and the Los Angeles community. Donations will be collected in Downtown San Bernardino Studio D (330 N. D Street, Suite 506) between 9 am - 12 pm on Saturday, Jan. 11.
Community members can also 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:
Karen 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.
This story was written in partnership with Anthony Victoria with Frontline Observer and KCVR.
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