URGENT UPDATE: Nearly 3,000 residents in Nevada County, California are currently without power due to severe lightning strikes battering the region. As of 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, 2,881 customers were affected, with the number decreasing to approximately 2,237 just 22 minutes later, according to PG&E outage maps.
The outages primarily impact unincorporated areas of the county, leaving residents in darkness as authorities scramble to understand the cause. Simultaneously, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office has reported a significant fire incident—the Bitney Fire—which ignited at 7:45 p.m. on Bitney Springs Road near Excelsior Road.
Despite the alarming situation, officials have confirmed that forward progress on the Bitney Fire has been stopped, although the blaze has already scorched several acres. Initially, around 70 homes in the vicinity were ordered to evacuate, but that order has since been downgraded to a warning as conditions stabilize.
“The lightning activity in Nevada County has been unprecedented, leading to these outages and the fire,” said a spokesperson from KCRA 3.
Residents have shared concerning footage of the fire’s orange glow threatening homes on a nearby hillside, heightening fears of further damage. Local authorities are working diligently to assess the situation, but as of now, no estimated time for power restoration has been provided.
The situation remains fluid as officials continue to monitor the conditions. KCRA 3 is actively seeking additional information from PG&E about the outages and fire developments. Stay tuned for the latest updates as this story unfolds.
For real-time updates, residents can check our interactive traffic map and Doppler radar. Download our app for immediate alerts and updates from our weather team.
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