NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — Wind-driven hazards escalated across Northern California as falling trees and branches caused fatalities and injuries while crews respond to widespread weather-related emergencies and safety warnings.
Winds in the North Bay Sunday afternoon turned deadly when a falling branch killed a man. A woman was also seriously injured by a branch in a separate incident.
Offshore winds were expected to intensify into the morning, raising continued concerns about fire spread and electrical hazards as dry conditions persisted across the landscape.
About 2,500 residents in Sonoma and others in Alexander Valley were facing outages this morning, as well. No estimates were immediately available for when power would be restored.
Gusty winds and heavy weekend travel pushed emergency systems across the region to the limit Sunday as crews raced from fire calls to traffic collisions while officials warned that hazardous conditions would continue into the week.
Emergency responders logged 111 incidents in a single day, as wind-whipped conditions fueled vegetation fires, toppled trees, brought down power lines, and triggered multiple traffic collisions across rural and highway corridors. Crews also responded to a single-vehicle crash on Lower Chiles Valley Road in Napa County, where medics coordinated with air support and airlifted a patient with moderate injuries.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company urged residents to stay clear of any downed power lines and to report them immediately to 911, then to PG&E at 1-877-660-6789. Outages should be reported directly to 1-800-743-5002 as crews monitor potential wind-related disruptions.
Elsewhere, coastal advisories are in effect. Although winds continue to diminish, moderate to rough seas and fresh northwest breezes could still create hazardous conditions for small craft into the mid weak before easing for most zones, according to the National Weather Service.
Fresh to strong northwest breezes will remain hazardous for small craft into the late week for the northern outer zone, the agency reported.
Fire safety officials also pushed preparedness messaging as the region heads deeper into fire season and a"Super El Niño" weather pattern develops.
The Sonoma County Fire District will be outlining the wildfire outlook and prevention steps during a public presentation focused on home hardening, risk reduction, and smoke protection strategies.
The free event, titled “Wildfire and Smoke Ready,” is scheduled for Tue, Jun 9, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at 9231 Foxwood Drive in Windsor, hosted by the Town of Windsor and Windsor COPE. A lantern and flashlight will be provided while supplies last, one per family.
Residents can register at Wildfire Preparedness Registration or call the Senior Center at 707-838-1260. Organizers noted that pre-registration is not required, but is encouraged for the giveaway, and additional information is available via windsor_cope@yahoo.com.
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