More than 1,000 SCE customers without power since Monday night

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif - More than 1,000 local Southern California Edison (SCE) customers have been without power since as early as 5:48 p.m. Monday night.

Robert Villegas, spokesman for Southern California Edison, said this isn't because of power safety shut-offs but rather because of the actual Cave Fire.

"We had two circuits totaling a little over 1,000 customers go off at at 5:48 p.m. (Monday) and 6:49 p.m., roughly 500 customers each on those circuits. And, two additional circuits with roughly 200 customers on them go off in the 9:00 p.m. timeframe."

Villegas said some circuits were damaged by the flames, other were de-energized to keep firefighters safe. A total of 1,235 customers were impacted. 

"The areas that are affected are northeast of Camino Cielo, the south side Cathedral Oaks; on the west side, San Marcos Rd.; and on the east side, Barger Canyon," Villegas said. 

SCE hoped to have its crews begin restoring power sometime Tuesday afternoon and do it as quickly as possible. Villegas stressed that they have to wait until it's safe for them to go in.

"Keeping our fingers crossed that the weather will cooperate and assist the firefighters as they go forward," Villegas told reporter Beth Farnsworth. "And, also make it easier for our damage assessment folks to get in there, take a look at any potential damage and get people restored as quickly and as safely as possible." 

Check the following link for a map indicating power outages: https://www.sce.com/outage-center/check-outage-status