neighbors say their fire fears all center around this pg&e pole just outside of rossmoor's gates. >> the pole itself is just riddled with woodpecker holes, which has compromised the stability of the pole itself. >> reporter: anne peterson, rossmoor's director of communication says woodpeckers caused damage and squierls have caused fires when they climb up the pole. >> unfortunately, they're getting electrocuted, hitting the ground and causing the fires. >> reporter: there have been six fires near the pole in the past 12 years. pg&e confirms at least the most recent fire last month was caused by a squirrel. the community has been asking and waiting for the utility to do something. >> we were told at the end of 2017 that the pole was going to be replaced, and then it wasn't. and then we were told at the end of the year, it would be replaced, and then it wasn't. >> reporter: now pg&e says work is being done this month. a spokesperson told us we plan replacing the poles. additionally, all vertical connecters and connection also be covered when we replace the new pole. this will prevent f

two, although it affects rossmoor, it's not on their property. no one minds the squirrels foraging on this hillside or the hummingbirds hunting for nectar, but everyone has a problem with them hanging out atop this old pg&e power pole. >> squirrels can climb up it and get up into the hot wires and get electrocuted. >> reporter: rossmoor resident jim brennan says he's watched them fall onto the dry grass below and spark grass fires. >> it's a potential disaster. we've dodged it. >> reporter: brennan said there have been at least five fires over the 15 years he's lived here, two of them in the past 14 months. he's so concerned he keeps a heavy duty garden hose at the ready to fight the flames while waiting for firefighters. rossmoor officials say they have complained repeatedly. >> we've been told three different times the pole will be replaced. it hasn't been replaced yet. >> reporter: residents took these pictures of the last grass fire last month. firefighters knocked it down before it got to any structures. >> it would just take one unlucky tim

at rossmoor, eric thomas, abc 7 news. >>> the head of facebook, mark zuckerberg, had to answer lawmakersthe topic was officially facebook's digital currency proposal, but lawmakers asked about a lot more. >>> a home warranty company claims a customer broke their furnace on ahey, fred, it'sage medicare open enrollment. time to compare plans. we're fine with what we have. that's what the johnsons thought until they tried medicare's new plan finder. the johnsons? we saved a lot on our prescription costs and got extra benefits. how 'bout it, fred? plans change every year. use the new plan finder at medicare.gov. comparing plans really pays. wow, look how much we can save! >>> lawmakers grilled facebook ceo mark zuckerberg on capitol hill this morning. zuckerberg was supposed to testify before the house financial services committee about his company's plan to create a global digital currency, but he faced scrutiny about a whole bunch of other challenges facebook is trying to overcome, privacy lapses, tolerance of hateful speech, and fake political ads, just to name a few. los angeles congress

at rossmoor, eric thomas, abc 7 news. >>> just ahead on abc 7 news at 4:00, we'll have an update on pg&e's emergency power shutoff. in fact the lights have already gone off in some places. plus the work the utility is doing to try to keep its website from crashing. we'll check to see if the changes are actually working. >> let me be clear. you do no fact checking on any ads, is that correct? >> a facebook face-off on capitol hill. mark zuckerberg under fire for questionable political ads and facebook ahey, fred, it'sage medicare open enrollment. time to compare plans. we're fine with what we have. that's what the johnsons thought until they tried medicare's new plan finder. the johnsons? we saved a lot on our prescription costs and got extra benefits. how 'bout it, fred? plans change every year. use the new plan finder at medicare.gov. comparing plans really pays. wow, look how much we can save! >>> pg&e has launched another series of public safety power shutoffs due to the red flag conditions and fears that power lines could trigger wildfires. in the north bay saennta rosa a sonoma co

pg&e did note that the community of rossmoor and danville will not be affected by the power outage. and so that is key. and at this time public schools in contra costa county are not scheduled to be closed today. and if the public want to find out more information go to the county website at contra costa.g.gov and we have information about the resource center located at 2600 camino ramon and the county opened up charging stations so that residents could go plug in their mobile phones. we've got four different charging stations throughout the county that will be open from 8:00 to 5:00 today. >> that is really key information that you just gave us there. including rossmore area not being shut down. and there are elder by people living in that area because many are on oxygen and ventilatored so good news there. thank you so much, susan. >>> meanwhile if you are without power, still get the information you feed. nbc bay area coverage is on your phone and tablet. you need the app. we'll get it on the app store and we'll be back in just a minute. >>> right now at 11:30, we are 30 minutes