Elevated wildfire concerns have prompted PG&E to issue Public Safety Power Shutoffs for parts of Northern and Central California into the weekend.

The shutoffs started Thursday as significant wind gusts were forecasted to hit the region.

"Even though it's only June, we're already seeing vegetation that's really pretty dry, and so with those increased winds, wind levels that increase the concern for a potential fire risk," said Jeff Smith, the communications operations manager. "And so those are the kind of factors that we're looking at right now."

A neighborhood between Tracy and Mountain House said their main water pump is powered by electricity. So if the power goes out, so do their taps. 

"Everything gets run off of the well, the pump," said PG&E customer Brenda Casterson. "So once that goes down, we have no use of anything at that point. So no showers, no water, refrigerator, everything's done."

In the San Francisco Bay Area, high winds created dangerous fire conditions for the eastern parts of Contra Costa and Alameda counties, with gusts up to 60 miles per hour expected.

The open space just outside of Livermore in eastern Alameda County is covered with quick-burning dry grass. The Alameda County Fire Department says the area has unique challenges.

"With wildfire, we really look at wind conditions to be able to push fire," said Cpt. Eric Truax with the Alameda County Fire Department. "We look at light, flashy fuels which respond easily to wind. We have topography, we have hot days out here. We kind of have all the elements that challenge us."

The department has increased staffing to make sure there are enough resources on hand to respond quickly to any wildfire.  

PG&E said not all customers will be out for the entire four-day PSPS.

"It's also a little bit early to see these types of winds, honestly. But you know, it has happened before, and it's just out of an abundance of caution," Smith said.

PG&E's lists that shutoffs are likely to happen from Thursday through Sunday.

"I always say everything helps," said Cpt. Truax. "If it stops one fire, or it stops one potential start, it's doing its job."  

Which counties could be impacted by the PSPS?

Parts of the following counties are listed under the likely shutoff warning, according to PG&E:

Alameda, 647 customers
Colusa, 900 customers
Contra Costa, 276 customers
Fresno, 17 customers
Glenn, 578 customers
Merced, 55 customers 
Monterey, 1,907 customers
Napa
San Benito, 239 customers
San Joaquin, 985 customers
San Luis Obispo, 496 customers
Santa Barbara
Santa Clara, 48 customers
Shasta, 2,940 customers
Stanislaus, 137 customers
Tehama, 298 customers
Trinity, 29 customers

Wind gusts are expected to be up to 60 mph in the Eastern Bay Area, and around 45 mph in the northwest Sacramento Valley and Salinas Valley foothills.

• PG&E