Media Contact: Media Relations, (626) 302-2255

ROSEMEAD, Calif., Aug. 9, 2013 — Southern California Edison (SCE) crews are continuing to make equipment repairs in the area burned by the Silver Fire in eastern Riverside County. SCE also is closely monitoring the Sharp Fire near Wrightwood, Calif.

There are currently 242 customers without power; SCE cannot yet provide an estimated restoration time. Rugged terrain and significant damage to equipment are posing challenges for SCE repair crews. Some of the damaged SCE equipment is in areas that are not accessible by vehicle and will require a helicopter to complete repairs. For public safety, airspace priority has been given to firefighting aircraft.

As authorities allow residents back into the area, be aware that there are downed wires and equipment. Residents and others in the area are reminded to never approach or touch a downed power line. Do not touch anything that is in contact with downed lines. Those lines may still be energized and pose a danger.  Stay away and call 911 or the fire department immediately.

SCE is working with various fire and emergency agencies on the scene to coordinate restoration activities. The company appreciates customers' patience as crews work to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.

SCE encourages customers to keep these other safety tips in mind:

  • Watch for traffic signals that may be out. Approach those intersections as four-way stops.
  • Do not use any equipment inside that is designed for outdoor heating or cooking. Such equipment can emit carbon monoxide and other toxic gases.
  • To prevent loss of data and/or damage to your sensitive electronic equipment, consider surge suppressors or shut off or disconnect all such equipment until power has been restored to protect against electrical events that can accompany outages or that can occur during service restoration.
  • If you use a generator, place it outdoors and plug individual appliances directly into it, using a heavy-duty extension cord. Connecting generators directly to household circuits creates “backfeed,” which is dangerous to repair crews.
  • Leave the doors of your refrigerator and freezer closed to keep your food as fresh as possible. Place blocks of ice inside to help keep food cold. Check food carefully for signs of spoilage.
  • Check on your neighbors to make sure everyone is safe.

For more safety tips, see sce.com/safety.  Customers also can visit sce.com/outages to report and stay informed regarding outages, and to find additional information regarding SCE's response to service disruptions. This information is also accessible on SCE's mobile app.

About Southern California Edison

An Edison International (NYSE:EIX) company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a population of nearly 14 million via 4.9 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California.