Sharjah24 – AFP: Across California, thousands of miles of overhead power cables run through cities, countryside, and forests.
It only took a tree to fall on one of these lines to start a devastating fire this summer.
With its fragile and aging infrastructure, the most populous US state is falling behind in its race against climate change.
Every summer Californians understand that they risk plunging into darkness at any moment. As soon as the red fire alarm flag is raised, preventative power line shutdowns can deprive thousands - if not millions - of electricity.
In recent weeks Los Angeles residents have been ordered at times to turn off their air conditioning, their ovens, and even unplug their appliances in order to prevent the grid from being overloaded.
Despite being the fifth largest economy in the world, California suffers from outdated infrastructure, with some electricity operators accused of putting profit before public safety and not investing in modernizing their network.
For an optimal experience, please
