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In Northern California wine country, authorities ordered 2,000 people to evacuate as a wildfire burned 49 buildings and exploded to 25 square miles. Authorities said on Thursday night that the fire is 5% contained. (Oct. 25)
AP, AP

SAN FRANCISCO – Close to 200,000 Northern California residents, many of them left in the dark by a third power shutdown in a month, have been ordered to leave their homes as historic winds fueled an explosion of wildfires in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The state’s largest utility, Pacific Gas & Electric, shut off power to an estimated 2.3 million people across 38 counties starting Saturday evening in an effort to avoid having its equipment spark fires amid dry conditions and powerful winds. But the precautionary move did not prevent the Kincade Fire from igniting late Wednesday, and early indications point to malfunctioning PG&E equipment as the cause of it.

The blaze has now grown to 30,000 acres and was only 10% contained as of Sunday morning, forcing authorities to impose mandatory evacuations for 180,000 residents in Sonoma County, best known for its wine production.

Flames also flared up on both sides of Interstate 80 near the Carquinez Bridge in the city of Vallejo, 20 miles north of Oakland, forcing the freeway to be shut down in both directions and the nearby California State University Maritime Academy to be evacuated.

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Woodbridge firefighter Joe Zurilgen passes a burning home as the Kincade Fire rages in Healdsburg, Calif., on Oct 27, 2019.
A fire truck heads towards flames during the Kincade fire near Geyserville, Calif. on Oct. 24, 2019. Fueled by high winds, the Kincade Fire has burned over 7,000 acres in a matter of hours and has prompted evacuations in the Geyserville area.
A firefighter monitors the Kincade Fire as it burns through the area on Oct. 24, 2019 in Geyserville, Calif. The fire broke out in spite of rolling blackouts by utility companies in both northern and Southern California.
Flames approach rolling hills of grape vines during the Kincade fire near Geyserville, Calif. on Oct. 24, 2019.
Residents monitor conditions as the Kincade Fire approaches in unincorporated Somoma County, Calif., near Geyserville on Oct. 24, 2019. Their home remains without power as Pacific Gas & Electric Co. cut utilities to prevent wildfires from sparking during dry and windy conditions.
A firefighter lights a back fire during the Kincade fire near Geyserville, Calif on Oct. 24, 2019.
Embers blow across a road during the Kincade fire near Geyserville, Calif. on Oct. 24, 2019.
Embers blow in the wind as the Kincade Fire burns through the area on Oct. 24, 2019 in Geyserville, Calif..
Embers blow in the wind as the Kincade Fire burns through the area on Oct. 24, 2019 in Geyserville, Calif.
A firefighter drives through an area where the Kincade Fire is burning on Oct. 24, 2019 in Geyserville, Calif.
Embers fly across a road as the Kincade Fire burns through the Jimtown community of Sonoma County, Calif. on Oct. 24, 2019.
Flames from the Kincade Fire consume a car in the Jimtown community of Sonoma County, Calif., on Oct. 24, 2019.
Firefighters put out hots spots as the Kincade Fire burns in the hills above Geyserville, Calif. on Oct. 24, 2019.
A home burns near a vineyard after the Kincade Fire burned through the area on Oct. 24, 2019, in Geyserville, Calif.
A pile of ash and debris burns along the roadside after the Kincade Fire burned through the area near Geyserville, Calif. on Oct. 24, 2019.
A firefighter sprays water on a home, as another building burns after the Kincade Fire burned through the area near Geyserville, Calif. on Oct. 24, 2019.
Firefighters protect a structure as the Kincade Fire moves through the area on Oct. 24, 2019, in Geyserville, Calif.
A structure burns after the Kincade Fire moved through the area on Oct. 24, 2019, in Geyserville, Calif.
A firefighter sprays water on a home, as another building burns after the Kincade Fire burned through the area near Geyserville, Calif. on Oct. 24, 2019.
A sign at the entrance of the drive-thru at Starbucks warns customers the store is closed due to a power outage in Paradise, Calif., on Oct. 24, 2019. The Pacific Gas & Electric Co. cut power to 17 counties in Northern California to help prevent wildfires caused by downed power lines.
Brian Boyd checks one of the generators used to provide power at the Clear Creek Crossing store near Paradise, Calif., on Oct. 24, 2019. The Pacific Gas & Electric Co. cut power to 17 counties in Northern California to help prevent wildfires caused by downed power lines. Boyd said generators were brought to the store to provide power to the refrigerators and to provide some service to area residents.
Dawn Russell straightens a clothing rack at Bobbi's Boutiques in Paradise, Calif. on Oct. 24, 2019.The Pacific Gas & Electric Co. cut power to 17 counties in Northern California to help prevent wildfires caused by downed power lines. Bobbi's is open during the blackout.
Cal Fire and inmate crews walk the fire line while fighting a wildfire in Sonoma County near Geyserville, Calif. on Oct 24, 2019.
An inmate hand crew works the fire line to fight a wildfire in Sonoma County near Geyserville, Calif. on Oct 24, 2019.
A helicopter passes a smoke plume as the Kincade Fire burns in unincorporated Sonoma County, Calif. on Oct. 24, 2019.
Cal Fire Captain Whitney Wong works the fire line to fight the Kincade Fire in Sonoma County near Geyserville, Calif. on Oct 24, 2019.
A firefighter hoses down a house on fire during the Tick fire in the Santa Clarita area of Los Angeles, Calif. on Oct. 24, 2019.
Firefighters rush to protect a home as the flames of the Tick fire approach behind it on Oct. 24, 2019, in Santa Clarita, Calif.
Patricia Dennison uses a hose to try to stop an advancing wildfire from affecting her business, Dennison Automotive on Oct. 24, 2019, in Santa Clarita, Calif.
Firefighters make a stand as a wildfire approaches the backyard of a home on Oct. 24, 2019, in Santa Clarita, Calif. Firefighters are protecting homes from a wind-whipped fire that's roaring toward subdivisions north of Los Angeles.
A firefighter makes a stand as a wildfire approaches the backyard of a home on Oct. 24, 2019, in Santa Clarita, Calif.
A wildfire approaches a residential subdivision on Oct. 24, 2019, in Santa Clarita, Calif.
Brando Mani covers his face from the smoke created by a wildfire as he walks along Highway 14 on Oct. 24, 2019, in Santa Clarita, Calif.
A Cal Fire firefighter hops over a locked gate while working the Tick fire on Oct. 24, 2019 in Canyon Country, Calif.
A building is engulfed in flames at a vineyard during the Kincade fire near Geyserville, Calif. on Oct. 24, 2019.
A firefighter prepares to fight a wildfire as it overtakes a home, Oct. 24, 2019, in Santa Clarita, Calif.
A firefighter assesses the damage of a home from the Tick Fire, Oct. 24, 2019, in Santa Clarita, Calif.
A firefighter works the scene of a wildfire-ravaged home, Oct. 24, 2019, in Santa Clarita, Calif.
Firefighters try to douse flames on a wildfire ravaged a home Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019, in Santa Clarita, Calif.
LA County Fire work a house fire at a home on Sequoia Road in Santa Clarita, Calif., as pictures lay on the lawn during the Tick fire on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019. An estimated 50,000 people were under evacuation orders in the Santa Clarita area north of Los Angeles as hot, dry Santa Ana winds howling at up to 50 mph drove the flames into neighborhoods.
Firefighters extinguish a house set on fire by the Tick Fire in a neighborhood near Santa Clarita, Calif. on Oct. 25, 2019.
Firefighters put out brush fires near the highway 14 closed down because of the Tick Fire near Santa Clarita, Calif. on Oct. 25, 2019. According to latest news report 4300 acres have burned, along with some houses and facilities.
Firefighters, in yellow, and inmates, in orange, put out the embers of the Tick Fire in a hill of Agua Dulce near Santa Clarita, Calif. on Oct. 25, 2019.
Firefighters try to put out a residence fire caused by a wildfire Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, in Santa Clarita, Calif. An estimated 50,000 people were under evacuation orders in the Santa Clarita area north of Los Angeles as hot, dry Santa Ana winds howling at up to 50 mph drove the flames into neighborhoods.
Mary, no last name given, sits on her wheelchair next to her dog Manny, outside of the gym at West Ranch High School after being evacuated from the Tick Fire Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, in Santa Clarita, Calif.
Debris from a hilltop home smolders after being burned by the Tick Fire, Thursday, Oct. 25, 2019, in Santa Clarita, Calif.
Firefighters, in yellow, and inmates, in orange, put out the embers of the Tick Fire in a hill of Agua Dulce near Santa Clarita, Calif. on Oct. 25, 2019. According to latest news report 4300 acres have burned, along with some houses and facilities.
A building stands burned by the Tick Fire with charred landscape in the distance on Oct. 25, 2019 in Canyon Country, California. The fire has burned 4,300 acres thus far with around 40,000 people under mandatory evacuation orders.
Inmate firefighters march past an American flag, while led by a fire captain, as they work to put out hot spots from the Tick Fire on Oct. 25, 2019 in Canyon Country, Calif. The fire has blackened 4,300 acres thus far with around 40,000 people under mandatory evacuation orders. The inmates are from one of the 44 state prison fire camps, where inmates perform firefighting duties during the wildfire season, for credit for early release and minimal pay.
Fire damage to the Highway 14 during the Tick Fire in Agua Dulce near Santa Clarita, Calif. on Oct. 25, 2019. California firefighters battled through the night to contain a fast-moving wildfire driven by high winds that was threatening to engulf thousands of buildings. Around 40,000 people were told to flee the Tick Fire, which was raging across 4,000 acres just north of Los Angeles.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, wearing white shirt, tours a home destroyed by the Kincade fire on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, in Geyserville, Calif. Newsom declared a state of emergency Friday as wildfires scorch both ends of the state from Sonoma to Los Angeles.
Firefighters survey Soda Rock Winery as it begins to burn during the Kincade fire in Healdsburg, Calif. on Oct. 27, 2019. 
A firefighter walks pass a building burning out of control, as the Kincade Fire continues to burn in Healdsburg, Calif. Oct. 27,  2019. According to reports, the Kincade Fire has burned more than 25,000 acres and triggered mandatory evacuations of about 90,000 residents in the area.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a statewide emergency as the extreme weather conditions significantly heightened the risk of wildfires.

Concerns that the winds could blow embers and spread the Kincade Fire across a major highway prompted the evacuation orders covering parts of Santa Rosa, a city of 175,000 that was devastated by the Wine Country fires two years ago.

“This is the largest evacuation that any of us … can remember,” the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office tweeted Sunday morning in English and Spanish, warning later that the winds were starting to whip up again.

The large expansion in the number of people told to leave their homes, from 90,000 Saturday night, reflected the increasingly dangerous conditions created by the winds picking up.

On Sunday morning, the National Weather Service reported wind gusts topped 90 mph in Healdsburg Hills North. Winds could lead to “erratic fire behavior” and send embers for miles, Cal Fire warned.

The wind event expected to peak early Sunday would likely be the strongest in several years, PG&E meteorologist Scott Strenfel said.

More than 3,000 firefighters with nearly 300 engines and 10 helicopters were battling the blaze, which had destroyed 79 structures. No fatalities have been reported.

PG&E equipment has been blamed for some of California’s deadliest and most destructive wildfires the last two years, and the utility acknowledged a broken jumper wire was found on a transmission tower near where the Kincade Fire started. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The company said this third wave of blackouts would affect about 940,000 homes and businesses for 48 hours or longer. Most of the impacted customers are in the Bay Area, along with some in the Sierra foothills.

The sheriff pleaded with residents in the evacuation zone to get out immediately, citing the 24 lives lost when fire swept through the region in October 2017. He thanked residents for heeding his call and praised the smooth exodus.

“Although I’ve heard people express concerns that we are evacuating too many people, I think those concerns are not valid at this point,” Essick said, noting that the winds pushed fire toward the towns of Healdsburg and Windsor overnight.

The Healdsburg area lost one of its historic attractions to the flames Sunday when embers carried by the winds sparked a blaze that engulfed the Soda Rock Winery whose buildings included a general store and post office founded in 1869. The winery was about 10 miles (16 kilometers) outside the town of Healdsburg.

In Southern California, which was was also the subject of preventive outages late last week, the Santa Clarita fire  

Contributing: The Associated Press