California braces for extreme fire conditions

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warnings in much of Southern California and Northern California.

Meteorologists say a strong Santa Ana wind event is expected to begin Thursday morning and continue through Friday evening across a huge swath of Southern California, from just east of San Diego to just outside Santa Barbara.

Peak winds are expected Thursday night, with the potential for gusts up to 50 mph in valleys and coasts, and up to 70 mph in the mountains.

In combination with low humidity and temperatures in the 80s, that makes for extreme fire danger.

In Northern California, Pacific Gas and Electric Company notified about 70,000 customers it may turn off power in portions of nine counties, including Napa and Sonoma, because of red flag conditions.