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- PG&E triggered 13 PSPSs affecting 1,812 customers in Colusa and Glenn.
- The shutoffs occurred during a red flag warning with gusts forecast up to 40 mph.
- The PSPSs were PG&E’s second wildfire-prevention shutoffs in 2026.
Fearing strong winds and heightened wildfire danger, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. shut off power to about 1,800 customers in Colusa and Glenn counties Wednesday under a series of public safety power shutoffs.
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The deliberate blackouts, commonly known as PSPS events, are affecting homes and businesses in Colusa and Glenn counties, which are both northwest of Sacramento. The wildfire-prevention shutoffs were PG&E’s second PSPS activation of 2026. One PSPS event has also triggered in San Diego County.
PG&E uses PSPS events to cut electricity in targeted areas when extreme weather — including the red flag conditions forecast for the Sacramento Valley on Wednesday — threatens to turn power lines into wildfire ignition sources.
As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, according data provided to the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, the outages were:
• Glenn County: 1,478 customers
• Colusa County: 334 customers
On Monday, PG&E said as many as 5,000 customers across eight Northern California counties could lose power due to the shutoffs. PG&E said the shutoffs could continue into Thursday.
In addition to Colusa and Glenn counties, PG&E said customers in Lake, Napa, Sonoma, Sutter, Tehama and Yolo counties could see deliberate outages.
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Cal OES also deployed 26 fire engines, nine water tenders, one helicopter and over 100 fire personnel to six of the counties — Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Napa, Tehama and Yolo — in preparation for the red flag warning conditions, the Governor’s Office announced in a news release Wednesday.
“We encourage all Californians to stay informed, follow the directions of local officials, and take steps now to prepare for both dangerous fire weather and prolonged heat,” OES director Caroline Thomas Jacobs said.
What is a red flag warning?
The National Weather Service said much of the Sacramento Valley, including Colusa and Glenn counties, are under red flag warning conditions through 5 p.m. Thursday.
The Weather Service forecast sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. Forecasters warned that the wind, combined with low humidity and high temperatures, could allow any fire to spread rapidly.
The shutoffs came as the 860-acre Putah Fire in Yolo County continued burning west of Winters. The fire began as an escaped controlled burn Monday morning and continued burning under red flag warning conditions. The fire was 35% contained as of Wednesday afternoon.
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