(Adnkronos) – There are still more than six million people in Los Angeles who are under ‘critical threat’ from fires fueled by strong winds that continue to blow. CNN reports.
In Southern California, however, 70,250 power sector customers are still without electricity due to wildfires. Southern California Edison has launched its power shutdown protocol for public safety reasons in targeted areas to protect communities.
The Los Angeles power company said it has deployed more than 3,000 employees, contractors and mutual aid personnel to help restore power, inspect areas and remove safety hazards. “We are aware of the difficulties, but safety remains our number one priority,” said Funmi Williamson, senior vice president of SoCal Edison.
Yesterday’s fires also affected 150 employees at one of NASA’s main centers, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which houses the Mars rovers and manages many of its robotic missions exploring Earth, the solar system and the universe.
The laboratory will remain closed until next week due to wildfire evacuations. “Firefighters put out the flames at the lab’s gates, but many of our colleagues have lost their homes,” a staff member wrote on X. Director Laurie Leshin confirmed on X that the lab had been protected from any damage from the fire thanks to the efforts of rescuers, but over a hundred staff members lost their homes and many others were displaced for a long time.
