FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) — Strong winds and dry conditions have fire officials and PG&E on alert, with residents in Sierra and foothill communities warned of potential planned power shutoffs that could begin as early as Wednesday afternoon and last through the weekend.

PG&E said meteorologists are continuing to monitor conditions to determine the extent of any outages. To see the latest updates from PG&E, click here.

“Our meteorologist continue to monitor the situation, ultimately discern how many customers will potentially be impacted and when and where they are,” PG&E spokesperson Jeff Smith said.

He said the potential impacts are significant for the region.

“This is the greatest impact we’ve had in this area in about four or five years,” Smith said.

For some mountain communities, losing power could create immediate challenges. Sherri Fosse, who has lived in Auberry for more than 20 years and works at the Sierra Oaks Senior Center, said outages can affect access to basic necessities.

“We’re okay here at the center we have generators that will kick on but for the rest of the community if they don’t have some type of alternative energy, you know we lose our well because the electricity means no water,” Fosse said.

The Sierra Oaks Senior Center said it is prepared to assist vulnerable residents during any shutoffs, as it has generators on standby. Fosse, who relies on an electric medical device and does not have a generator at home, said she has begun making alternative plans.

“I was talking with my daughter last night and she’s going to send me over to my daughter in Oakhurst, but they’re part of the thing. I have a small backup battery, but I need to make sure it’s charged, but I don’t know that that would even get me through the night you know without it. I have a really hard time sleeping and functioning,” she said.

Overnight, the potential scope of the planned outages expanded in parts of Madera County to include areas of Bass Lake, North Fork, Coarsegold and Oakhurst. The affected area was reduced in parts of Fresno County.

PG&E acknowledged its equipment has been involved in wildfires in the past and said the potential shutoffs are intended as a precaution.

“The reason for the public safety power shut off program in general is because historically the wildfires that have occurred where PG&E equipment has been involved. We made a commitment that we were going to explore all kinds of different alternatives,” Smith said.

Fosse said she understands the reasoning behind the preventive measure despite the hardships it can create.

“I think it’s good that they’re trying to stop a fire before it starts, but for those of us up here having to deal with it with what we actually have to deal with, I’d rather they didn’t, but I totally understand the need for it,” she said.

PG&E said outages, if implemented, could occur in intervals through the weekend, meaning customers may experience power going on and off. The utility is urging residents in potentially affected areas to monitor its latest updates.

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