THE SOUTHLAND FIRESTORM : POWER OUTAGES : Hundreds Affected by Loss of Service

Fire damage to power poles and lines left 200 residences around Matilija Lake without electricity for 20 hours Wednesday and Thursday. Another 300 residences in upper Ojai were without service for two hours Wednesday afternoon, according to Tony Wilson, area manager for Southern California Edison.

Wilson said residences scattered across Thousand Oaks have been without power since Wednesday. But service throughout the rest of the county went uninterrupted, he said.

The most heavily damaged area, he said, was in Thousand Oaks, where 40 poles were destroyed Wednesday. Crews began restoring the lines immediately after the fire burned through some of the affected areas. Wilson said all of the poles will be replaced by Saturday.

While Southern California Edison crews worked to restore service in Ventura County, some of the 300 local crew members were dispatched to Orange County to help restore power to neighborhoods devastated by the Laguna Beach fire.

In the meantime, Southern California Edison has set up emergency services for residents of Thousand Oaks who remain without electricity. They will be able to get temporary service set up, in some cases for no charge, Wilson said. For emergency service, call (800) 643-0517.