Grass fire erupts on hillside near San Francisco

Near San Francisco's international airport, crews were battling a smoky grass fire burning Friday afternoon on a highly visible hill with an iconic sign welcoming people to “South San Francisco." The city of nearly 70,000 people said on social media that authorities were on the scene and evacuation instructions would follow if needed.

The four-alarm grass fire was reported along an area known as Sign Hill in South San Francisco, according to a report from local TV station KGO. Video from KGO-TV showed flames and heavy smoke rising near structures along the hillside.

Thousands of Northern California residents remained without electricity Friday after a utility cut off service to prevent the latest round of powerful winds from damaging equipment and sparking wildfires amid a fall heat wave. Warnings of dangerously hot, dry and gusty conditions that can fan fires were expected to remain in effect until the evening. Nearly 9,000 firefighters remain on the lines of 21 fires across the state.