Strong winds whip through Bay Area, spark fire in Malibu
BERKELEY, Calif. - Whipping winds raced through California late Monday night, causing trees to fall and fires to ignite throughout the state.
In Southern California, a massive brush fire broke out in Malibu near Pepperdine University, which canceled classes for the day.
The AP reported power to tens of thousands of people had been shut off on Monday night as utilities worked to mitigate the impacts of the region's notorious Santa Ana winds.
Up north, the winds were so strong in Berkeley, they pushed a tree onto the front deck on Eunice Street and also caused roof damage to a neighboring structure.
Another large tree branch blocked the road along Martin Luther King Jr. Way near Cedar Street.
And there was also some damage to property along Shattuck Way between Hearst Avenue and Virginia Street. Restaurant patio furniture and construction fencing were knocked down by the wind.
Berkeley firefighter Dejuan Turner said that despite some physical damage to structures, no injuries have been reported.
At one of the homes, Cathy Pool said she and her husband planted their tree 30 years ago. She had planned to remove it this year, because she was worried about it falling in the wind.
"It was really wild," she said. "I was going to sleep. I was hearing noises I'd never heard before. It's an old house."
The National Weather Service said that gusty winds will sweep across the higher elevations, and winds of up to 50 mph have been reported in places including Mount Tamalpais in Marin County and the Oakland hills.
Gusts will decrease throughout the daylight hours.