Fires, Widespread Power Outages Reported Following Bay Area Storm

BAY AREA, CA — Lightning and wind gusts were sparking fires and causing power outages around the Bay Area Sunday morning. Lightning is given as the cause of vegetation fires in the North, South and East Bay areas, aided by winds gusts that the National Weather Service said have been as high as 66 mph in higher elevations.

Cal Fire said its crews have been dispatched to seven vegetation fires in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties. In Alameda County, Cal Fire was also working the Arroyo Fire in the area of 5200 Arroyo Road near Lake Del Valle in Livermore.

The Marin County Fire Department said it was responding to "numerous lightning strikes in the area of King Mountain and San Geronimo and throughout the county" and that power was out in several areas of the county.

Power restoration was expected by 8:30 a.m., the agency said. Power was out for some 4,500 customers in San Mateo County. The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District said it has
dispatched all available units to a grass fire caused by dry lightning on Briones Valley Road in Brentwood.

The Santa Clara County Fire said downed power lines sparked a fire in an unincorporated area on Brush Road near state Highway 17 that started just before 3 a.m. and forced the evacuation of 20 residents. It was contained by 6 a.m. after burning a little more than an acre.

The Santa Rosa Fire Department said agencies around Sonoma County have been responding to reports of downed trees and power lines and other lightning-related incidents.

See Also:

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