LAKE COUNTY — Smoke from the Kincade Wildfire burning in Sonoma County as seen from Clear Lake’s eastern shore on Thursday. The blaze broke out Wednesday night just after a still-energized PG&E transmission line was damaged near the fire’s origin. The fire had spread to over 20,000 acres by Friday and was still growing. Lake County residents who had been powered down by PG&E beginning Wednesday were nearly all re-energized as of press time Friday, but another severe wind event expected to hit Northern California Saturday evening, prompting yet another massive PG&E power shutoff, could put over 37,000 Lake County utility customers in the dark. PG&E meteorologist Scott Strenfel on Wednesday said weather models predict “damaging” 40–60 mph winds across much of Northern California starting Saturday.
