Wildfires

Wildfires - California, USA

Power was shut off to about 118,500 customers in parts of more than a dozen Northern California counties late Sunday in an unprecedented move to pre-empt wildfires with strong winds and extreme weather conditions.

Utility company Pacific Gas and Electric, or PG&E, said it was shutting off power to help reduce the risk of wildfires. Some of the deadly infernos that engulfed the state this time last year were caused by downed power lines and damaged electrical equipment.

The National Weather Service warned Sunday of critical fire-related weather conditions in the North Bay Mountains and East Bay Hills continuing through Monday morning due to a combination of strong, gusty offshore winds and low relative humidity.

Wildfires - Oregon, USA

Oregon's largest wildfire has flared up, prompting new evacuations. Gov. Brown on Monday declared the Klondike fire, which started three months ago in southern Oregon, a conflagration. That clears the way for the state fire marshal's office to send firefighters and equipment to help with the blaze, which covers over 167,000 acres. About 40 homes are under level three ("go") evacuations as of Monday morning.