Stay Calm: California Wildfires Temporarily Disrupt Fuel Pipeline to Las Vegas

Power outages from California wildfires forced the CALNEV pipeline to stop running, cutting off one out of two main pipelines fueling Las Vegas.

The City of Las Vegas said on social media, "In an abundance of caution, due to the fires in California, the main pipeline that brings gasoline and other fuels to the Las Vegas Valley looks to face temporary disruptions in service."

The city further said this key line brings in fuel from refineries in California, and they've, "assessed fuel reserves for emergency response vehicles and are confident we will continue to provide emergency services for the duration of this event."

However, don't panic buy just yet. Clark County said there are two main pipelines that bring in fuel to Las Vegas, and this should "help to alleviate any concerns or panic about current fuel supply." But, we should be cognisant of this situation and try to limit heavy driving.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department also warned people to "avoid unnecessary panic or misinformation."

This answer to this is dependent on the wildfire situation, which hasn't quelled much since Tuesday night. Reuters reports the CALNEV pipelines are not "directly impacted by the fires." Once the power is restored then service will resume.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said there are over 95,000 people with power. PowerOutage.US shows a high concentration of outages in Riverside County, San Bernadino County, Los Angeles County and Ventura County.

Help is on the way with Las Vegas Fire and Rescue. Teams of Las Vegas firefighters will be joining the battle in California. The city said that on Wednesday, a 25-team person strike team went to Southern California. Additional aid will also be deployed and help with structural protection.

Clark County Fire Chief John Steinbeck told News 3 that, "They'll do whatever is needed within their scope."

Devastating brush fires are sweeping across Southern California, claiming five lives and reducing thousands of buildings to ash.

The LA Times reports three major fires happening as of Wednesday: The Palisades Fire, the Eaton Fire and the Hurst Fire. The Palisades Fire is the largest, scorching over 15,800 acres. The Eaton Fire has consumed more than 10,000 acres, while the Hurst Fire has burned 700 acres.

Officials have issued evacuation orders in Calabasas, Malibu, Los Angeles, Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre, NBC reports. And surrounding areas in the region have been told to "stay ready."

Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin said the Eaton Fire was at 0% containment during a press conference around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. He also said this was the "worst case scenario."

The strong Santa Ana Winds in Southern California further helped the embers spread, aiding the fire to unfurl and grow rapidly, Chief Augustin said.

Iconic structures and buildings across Pacific Coast Highway have burnt completely, leaving steel exoskeletons and bare construction beams. NBC also reports a "preliminary review from J.P. Morgan's insurance analysts estimated that losses from the fires could top $10 billion."

24 school districts in Los Angeles County canceled classes and activities on Wednesday, and most likely will continue to cancel school until the fire is safely contained.

Countless people have lost their homes, thousands of animals need shelter and Californian staples have been scorched to unrecognizable scenes.

The LA Food Bank is working with agencies across the state to help disperse resources across fire departments and affected areas. To donate, click here.

To help support the Los Angeles Fire Department, you can also donate by clicking here.

Many animal shelters in Southern California have asked the public to help with donations and monetary support. The Pasadena Humane Society reports they've taken in over 100 animals since Tuesday night. To donate to the Human Society's wildfire relief, click here.

 Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a donation. The Red Cross is on the ground in Southern California, helping the community to "make sure no one faces these intense and fast-moving wildfires alone."