 With the goal of preventing wildfires, Pacific Gas and Electric has now started shutting off power to about 12,000. Northern California customers are mainly in the wildfire-prone foothills of the Sierra Nevada and places like Lake Shasta and Butte Counties. Red flag fire warnings are up because of extreme heat and wind to prevent power lines coming down and starting wildfires. For the last couple of years, when conditions warrant, PG&E cuts off the electricity. Alex Stone, EBC News.