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Future Of Proposed Blackout Curfews In Chico Uncertain

Nichols, Melburg And Rossetto

Firefighters were on high alert yesterday as thunderstorms and dry lightning struck Northern California. Though conditions didn’t prompt a Pacific Gas & Electric Company public safety power shutdown, concern that one could happen at any time has prompted discussion of setting a dusk to dawn curfew in Chico.

 

Activists dismissed Police Chief Michael O’Brien’s proposal at a city council meeting August 6th, and the concept seemed to have little support from the council.

 

 

O’Brien said the idea is far from a power grab or assault on civil liberties. 

 

“Not that I’m a pessimist, but I have to look at the worst case scenario,” he said.

 

O’Brien said as far as he knows, no other California town is working along the same lines, though he said his city’s location — where the foothills begin rising from the pancake-flat Valley, increases fire risk and the likelihood PG&E could cut power. PG&E says people and communities should be ready to endure a week without electricity.

 

“This type of event could be unprecedented, and that’s what causes me concern as chief of police. I want to keep the entire community safe and I want to look at everything that might allow us to do that in an unprecedented event like a complete power shut down for a week in the city of Chico,” O’Brien said.

 

In the hearing’s wake, Mayor Randall Stone said the curfew idea is pretty much dead, though council member, Kasey Reynolds, doesn’t see it quite that way.

 

Further discussion was remanded to an Ad Hoc committee, though three weeks after the council hearing, no meeting has been scheduled. Stone said officials are trying to coordinate their calendars.

 

O’Brien said PG&E said it would provide advanced warning to city officials if possible, but can’t make any guarantees.