PG&E Cuts Power to 8 Counties as Wildfire Risk Peaks

Pacific Gas and Electric Company activated its second Public Safety Power Shutoff of the 2026 fire season on June 10, cutting power to Northern California communities as a Red Flag Warning brought high winds, extreme heat, and critically low humidity to the region. What began as a targeted outage affecting roughly 1,800 customers in Colusa and Glenn counties quickly expanded as weather conditions deteriorated. By midday June 11, the shutoffs had spread across eight counties, with approximately 4,443 customers without electricity, according to the California Office of Emergency Services. PG&E data placed the peak impact at around 5,000 customers.

Red Flag Conditions Drive Rapid Expansion

The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning effective from 11 AM on June 10 through 5 PM on June 11, forecasting north winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts reaching 40 mph, combined with humidity levels dropping as low as 9% to 15%. These conditions created an environment where a single spark from a downed power line could ignite a fast-moving wildfire.

As reported by the Sacramento Bee, PG&E initially targeted Colusa and Glenn counties for shutoffs. But as the Red Flag Warning persisted and wind speeds remained elevated, the utility expanded the outage footprint to six additional counties: Tehama, Napa, Sutter, Sonoma, Lake, and Yolo. According to Cal OES data, Napa and Sonoma counties accounted for approximately 1,100 affected customers.

PG&E officials emphasized that the decision to expand the shutoffs was driven by real-time weather monitoring. Field crews and meteorologists tracked wind speeds, humidity levels, and fuel moisture content throughout the event, adjusting the scope of the shutoffs as conditions evolved. The utility stated that de-energizing power lines in high-risk areas was a necessary precaution to prevent its equipment from becoming a wildfire ignition source.

Putah Fire Burns as Shutoffs Take Effect

The PSPS event unfolded against the backdrop of an active wildfire. In Yolo County, the Putah Fire continued to burn throughout the shutoff period. According to The Press Democrat, the fire originated from a prescribed burn that escaped containment and had consumed 860 acres by June 12. Containment stood at 60% as of that morning, improving to 75% by midday, with approximately 145 firefighters remaining on the scene to handle hot spots and complete mop-up operations.

The proximity of an active wildfire added urgency to the PSPS measures. For residents in affected counties, the experience was layered: the threat of wildfire was not abstract but visibly present, and the intentional blackout meant losing power at precisely the moment when staying informed about fire conditions was most critical.

Swift Restoration After Winds Subside

According to The Press Democrat, PG&E crews began patrolling power lines and inspecting electrical equipment as early as 9 AM on June 11, once weather conditions began to improve. The utility's protocol requires physical inspection of de-energized lines before power can be restored, a process that involves checking for wind damage, fallen branches, and any other hazards that could cause problems when electricity flows again.

Restoration times varied by county. Cal OES data showed that Sonoma County was the first to have power restored, at 12:30 PM on June 11. Lake, Napa, Sutter, and Yolo counties followed at 4:00 PM. Tehama County came back online at 8:00 PM, while Glenn and Colusa counties were the last to see power restored, at 11:00 PM. PG&E reported that all affected customers had their electricity back by late evening on June 11.

The staggered restoration timeline reflected the complexity of inspecting lines across a wide geographic area with varying terrain. Counties with more remote or rugged terrain, such as Glenn and Colusa, required additional time for crews to access and inspect all affected circuits.

Living with Fire Season Blackouts

PSPS events have become a recurring feature of California's fire season. The June 10-11 shutoffs, while smaller in scale than some previous events, demonstrated the familiar pattern: dry winds pick up, the Red Flag Warning goes out, and thousands of households lose power—not because of a storm or equipment failure, but as a deliberate safety measure.

For residents in fire-prone areas, these intentional blackouts create a difficult paradox. The power is cut to prevent fires, but losing electricity means losing the ability to run air conditioning during extreme heat, keep refrigerators and medical devices running, and stay connected to emergency alerts. PG&E has worked to refine its PSPS protocols, making shutoffs more targeted and shorter in duration, but the fundamental trade-off remains unchanged.

A home battery backup system offers a way out of this dilemma. Unlike a gas generator that requires stored fuel and cannot be operated indoors, a LiFePO4 battery system runs silently, produces no emissions, and can be safely used inside the home. It charges from the grid when power is available and delivers stored energy when it is not. During a PSPS event, a charged battery can keep essential devices running—fans, lights, phones, medical equipment, and even a refrigerator—until grid power returns. Solar-compatible systems extend this capability further, recharging during the day to provide sustained backup through multi-day shutoffs.

Conclusion:

The June 10-11 PSPS in Northern California was smaller and swifter than some past events, but it carried the same lesson: when fire weather arrives, the grid may be turned off by design. A portable power station or home backup battery ensures that even when the utility de-energizes your neighborhood, your essentials stay on. Kingboss offers LiFePO4 power solutions built for the realities of modern fire season.

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