Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Californians struggle after latest blackout hits 1.5 million
The Associated Press ^ | October 30, 2019 | JANIE HAR and JOCELYN GECKER

Posted on 10/30/2019 7:13:37 AM PDT by IndispensableDestiny

That fire was caused when a dry branch from a eucalyptus tree was flung 30 feet (9 meters) by high winds into a city Department of Water and Power line, which short-circuited and sparked, the utility and Fire Department announced Tuesday.

The power line had been operating safely and the DWP had cut away brush and trees from around the line, officials said.

Mayor Eric Garcetti called it an “act of God.”

(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: blackouts; cartelfornia; fire
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-98 next last
To: IndispensableDestiny
Mayor Eric Garcetti called it an “act of God"

God's fault again.

61 posted on 10/30/2019 8:17:41 AM PDT by D Rider
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Spktyr

I live in California, and they (PG&E hired contractors) have trimmed heavily in my rural-ish neighborhood in the past year.
They are just WAAAAY behind. Either California gov’t environmental regs prevented it, or PG&E tried to save money and not do it, or a combination of the two.


62 posted on 10/30/2019 8:18:05 AM PDT by cantbetooconservative (I miss Ronald Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: camle

one correction

“and overheat causing fires”

The power lines do not “overheat”.

It is usually a wind caused tree or branch that causes a wire to get taken to the ground, and broken, where a spark on dry terrain causes a fire to start.


63 posted on 10/30/2019 8:18:07 AM PDT by Wuli
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: AFreeBird

Wow!


64 posted on 10/30/2019 8:19:10 AM PDT by faithhopecharity ( “Politicians are not , born; they are excreted.” Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 to 43 BCE))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: al baby

“Cancel bullet train and taking care of illegals and bury the dam things.”

You’re too smart for California, you’d never get elected there.


65 posted on 10/30/2019 8:19:58 AM PDT by Wuli
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: JLAGRAYFOX

“I hope every Californian gets the maximum misery and turmoil and pain”

That’s a horrible & dumb statement. Although they are a minority in California there are plenty of people there that did not elect the Democrats, but for a multitude of personal reasons still have to live there. I know; some are in my family. It’s bad enough that they have to suffer for what the Democrats have done, but why should we, who support them, wish them even worse pain. Makes no sense at all.


66 posted on 10/30/2019 8:24:56 AM PDT by Wuli
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Sacajaweau
What's the real solution to this?

Real solutions, e.g. cut down the non native absurdly inflammable eucalyptus trees and don't whine about it. The chaparral is flammable enough already. I'll bet that firebreak was insufficient for this fire. But wherever there's chaparral there's going to be brushfire, that will burn without a man made ignition source, so if you have property in those hills you'd better be prepared.

67 posted on 10/30/2019 8:25:04 AM PDT by no-s (when democracy is displaced by tyranny, the armed citizen still gets to vote...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: IndispensableDestiny

At’s amazing how you can force a company in insolvency with nothing more than mandates and regulation.
California alone is responsible for this mess.


68 posted on 10/30/2019 8:26:07 AM PDT by BuffaloJack ("Security does not exist in nature. Everything has risk." Henry Savage)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Spktyr

“All facetiousness aside, one real solution for this is actually pretty simple. All they have to do is allow the utilities to cut brush and trees away from power lines, something currently outlawed in CA.”

Wrong. It is not outlawed.


69 posted on 10/30/2019 8:26:26 AM PDT by Wuli
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Spktyr

“They can, but they are much harder/more expensive to maintain. “

More expensive than the billions in lawsuits that bankrupted PG&E?

Right now they are in a damned if they do and damned if they don’t situation.

Had they not shut off power, they were to be sued for some wild fire. With power shut off they will be sued for damages and harm folks suffered for not having power.


70 posted on 10/30/2019 8:34:05 AM PDT by Wuli
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: IndispensableDestiny

The planting of non-native eucalyptus trees, shake roofs and refusal to remove dead trees is a sizable part of the problem.
Eucalyptus oil in the trees is highly flammable


71 posted on 10/30/2019 8:35:07 AM PDT by Zathras
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cantbetooconservative

“Either California gov’t environmental regs prevented it, or PG&E tried to save money and not do it, or a combination of the two.”

or PG&E spent $2 billion plus following the legal mandate in California for them to buy power from “renewable” sources when, if they needed extra power they could have gotten it much cheaper wholesale from the grid.

PG&E’s problem is they have dutifully done all the “green” stuff the state wanted them to do, as well as all the “diversity” stuff, “minority contractor” stuff, all the “gender equity” stuff and every other kind of progressive agenda the Dims are running. PG&E’s real problem is they have bent over backwards to be exactly the “progressive” corporation the Dims want. And the rate payers are paying for it.


72 posted on 10/30/2019 8:47:15 AM PDT by Wuli
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: Jane Long

The state is a mockery. It is an insane asylum of the privileged and the third world with the people with common sense overrun and left out. It’s the home of Free Republic and Devin Nunes, one of the nation’s finest congressmen.

I have no joy and pray for them. It makes me very sad.


73 posted on 10/30/2019 8:55:38 AM PDT by Luke21
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: JLAGRAYFOX

“I hope every Californian gets the maximum misery and turmoil and pain...”

I understand your rage, but these are real human beings. Let’s be better than that.


74 posted on 10/30/2019 8:57:37 AM PDT by Luke21
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: IndispensableDestiny
The landowners should do thinning and controlled burns to protect their property. They shouldn't be forced to do it. But they shouldn't be stupid and let too much time go by without doing it.

And the politicians should let land owners do it.

75 posted on 10/30/2019 9:01:01 AM PDT by Tell It Right (1st Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IndispensableDestiny

California liberal voters: quit your crying. You voted yourselves into this mess, and you don’t have the courage to fight your way out of it. This is what you’re going to be doing now. Deal.


76 posted on 10/30/2019 9:01:12 AM PDT by 60Gunner (The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men. - Plato)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sacajaweau

On the face of it, you’d have to cut growth beyond 30 feet.


77 posted on 10/30/2019 9:03:43 AM PDT by fruser1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: avital2

Yes, they certainly can be buried. At a cost of tens of billions of dollars, and environmental impact studies lasting approximately 300-500 years. Not going to talk about the lawsuits.


78 posted on 10/30/2019 9:04:50 AM PDT by NYAmerican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: avital2

can’t power lines go underground? i thought they could.


Yes, but so can idiots with backhoes. Frankly its so much safer to have bare wires above ground at 345,000 volts than it is to have them buried and with insulation.

And this is not satire.


79 posted on 10/30/2019 9:10:41 AM PDT by freedomlover
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: IndispensableDestiny

Did his face cringe when he said ‘act of God’.... and not climate change?


80 posted on 10/30/2019 9:23:15 AM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi - Monthly Donors Rock!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-98 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson