9-1-2025 (LOS ANGELES) Multiple wildfires are wreaking havoc across Southern California, forcing authorities to cut power to more than 400,000 homes and businesses as strong seasonal winds continue to fuel the blazes.
Since Tuesday, six separate fires have erupted in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, claiming two lives and leaving a trail of destruction across more than 20,000 acres of land. Schools, homes, and commercial properties have fallen victim to the rapidly spreading infernos.
Southern California Edison, which serves five million customers in the region, has implemented emergency power cuts to more than 169,000 properties across six counties—representing over 3% of their customer base. The utility company has warned that an additional 8.5% of customers could face similar measures.
“These preventive shutoffs are crucial to minimise the risk of airborne debris igniting new fires upon contact with power lines,” explained Jeff Monford, a spokesperson for Southern California Edison. He emphasised that restoration timelines remain uncertain, as safety inspections and repairs cannot commence until dangerous conditions subside.
The crisis has dealt a significant blow to Edison International’s market performance, with shares plummeting 13.8% to $66.70—marking their lowest point since April and the steepest single-day decline since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
The largest of the blazes, the Palisades fire, has consumed nearly 12,000 acres between Santa Monica and Malibu, whilst another significant fire near Pasadena has burned through 10,500 acres. Local authorities have issued mandatory evacuation orders affecting tens of thousands of residents in parts of Malibu and Santa Monica.
PowerOutage.us reports that virtually all power disruptions are concentrated in Southern California, with Los Angeles bearing the brunt of the outages.
