In today's newscast:
Two fires in Big Sur
Firefighters are facing difficult conditions as they battle the Plaskett Fire in southern Monterey County.
The fire is burning in rugged terrain near the Big Sur coast, about 25 miles from the Timber Fire, which is now the state’s second largest wildfire.
Lee Beyer, a public information officer with the U.S. Forest Service, is working on both incidents.
He says the dry air is helping the Plaskett Fire spread.
" With some of the drier offshore flow and with the high pressure, it's pushing that marine layer down a little bit," he said. "So that's allowing that drier air to get in there and mix, and then allow the fire to burn a little bit quicker as well."
Beyer says the fire is also difficult to reach. Crews have to hike several miles into the area.
Two evacuation orders and three warnings are in place.
As of Friday morning at 7:30 a.m., the fire had spread to 2,774 acres.
Beyer says despite the Plaskett and Timber fires burning about 25 miles apart, there’s little concern they could merge.
Highway 1 through Big Sur is closed as crews plan firefighting tactics.
That reporting from our partner, KCBX.
Details about evacuations and other resources are on our Big Sur Fires page.
Checking a commission's math
Legislation that aims to make energy bills more transparent is headed to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk.
Central Coast Community Energy, or 3CE, sponsored the bill. The utility sources energy for more than a million people and focuses on renewables.
Director of government and community relations Das Williams says 3CE works with PG&E, but often can’t see how certain fees that go to customers are calculated.
"We think the system is being gamed a bit," he said, "and we want to shed some sunlight on the process."
He says in addition to adding accountability, it would also help service providers catch mistakes the public utility commission makes.
"With this bill, we would have the ability to check their math," Williams said.
The bill passed with overwhelming support and will become law unless Newsom vetoes it in the next 30 days.
