SAN DIEGO -- In less than one month SDG&E is going to implement a plan that would include an automatic power shutoff during extreme fire conditions in the back country. It's a controversial effort to keep the county safe from catastrophic wildfires.

Now, for the first time, we've heard from those on the front lines: firefighters who say the county isn't doing enough to protect people and SDG&E's plan is a step in the right direction.

60,000 customers, that's how many people would be left in the dark according to the plan. But city firefighters said hundreds of thousands of San Diegans could be at risk if another major wildfire breaks out.

Some leaders said the county has failed on many levels, 10News reporter Juliette Vara said Friday. They said if county leaders are not stepping up to the plate to provide adequate service then they will.

Friday, this issue turned into a finger-pointing battle among local leaders.

Frank De Clerk of the San Diego Fire Fighters Union and leaders like Marty Emerald said the county needs to step up.

De Clerk said city firefighters can't always be there to fight county problems. It leaves the city vulnerable.

"Their failure in providing services is unbelievable," De Clerk said. He along with city firefighters support SDG&E's plan to shut off power to rural areas, if needed.

"Doing nothing is not an option and that's what they've done," De Clerk said about the county.

County leaders said that is not the case. "Since the Cedar fire, the county has invested $180 million," Dianne Jacob said.

Jacob further said that Cal Fire is responsible for tackling county wildfires "and we're funding 50 different fire stations in the back country."

Finger-pointing aside, like it or not the shutoff plan will move forward starting Septemeber 1, and could affect 17 areas -- an estimated 60,000 customers in outlying areas where the most recent wildfires have broken out.

SDG&E said it will provide 31 generators for those areas to use and would install them before they shut the power off.

Cal Fire said it makes no recommendations and takes no sides on the issue.

» 10News Poll: Do You Support SDG&E Plan?