LOS ANGELES — Firefighters swiftly contained multiple brush fires that ignited on Monday in Southern California as windy and arid conditions prevailed. These extreme fire conditions have elevated the likelihood of new wildfires, akin to the two significant blazes that are still active near Los Angeles, which began under similar weather patterns nearly two weeks ago.
Wind gusts could reach up to 70 mph (113 kph) along coastal areas and 100 mph (160 kph) in mountain and foothill regions during this high-risk fire weather, anticipated to persist until Tuesday.
A warning has been issued by the National Weather Service about a “particularly dangerous situation” for specific sections of Los Angeles, Ventura, and San Diego counties from Monday afternoon until Tuesday morning due to low humidity and destructive Santa Ana winds.
“The circumstances are conducive for rapid fire expansion in case of an outbreak,” noted Andrew Rorke, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
On Monday afternoon, a small brush fire erupted south of the renowned Griffith Observatory, but Los Angeles fire teams were able to extinguish it quickly. A man believed to be responsible for igniting the fire was apprehended, according to David Cuellar, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department. Another small brush fire along Interstate 405 in Granada Hills was also swiftly controlled, though it resulted in a brief closure of the northbound lanes.
In southern regions, firefighting teams battled a blaze that started the same afternoon in Poway, San Diego County, successfully halting its advance.
Rorke expressed cautious optimism regarding a slight chance of rain forecasted for Los Angeles over the weekend, but he warned that gusty winds would re-emerge by Thursday.
Authorities have advised residents to refrain from activities such as lawn mowing that could ignite fires, and to practice caution regarding any potential fire-starting actions. They also recommend reviewing evacuation plans, preparing emergency kits, and vigilantly watching for new fire outbreaks while reporting any sightings promptly.
David Acuna, spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, highlighted concerns over the containment lines of the ongoing Palisades and Eaton Fires and the possibility of additional fires arising.
“Please avoid actions that could ignite another fire so we can focus on managing the current ones,” Acuna urged.
The combination of low humidity, dry vegetation, and fierce Santa Ana winds occurs while firefighters are still engaged with the two significant blazes—the Palisades and Eaton Fires—which have collectively destroyed over 14,000 structures since their outbreak amid violent winds on January 7. As of Monday, the Palisades fire was reported to be 59% contained while the Eaton fire was 87% contained, according to fire officials.
On Monday, more evacuation orders were rescinded for the Pacific Palisades area, and it was announced that only residents could return after presenting proof of residence at a checkpoint. During the weekend, two individuals posing as firefighters tried to gain entry into an evacuation zone for the Palisades Fire, as per the Los Angeles County sheriff’s department.
Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles assured the public that the city is ready for any potential new fires and cautioned that the strong winds might carry ash from the existing fire zones across Southern California. She encouraged residents to visit lacity.gov to find information on protecting themselves from hazardous air conditions during Santa Ana wind events.
Cal Fire and local fire departments have strategically stationed fire engines, water-dropping aircraft, and hand crews throughout the region to enable a rapid response in case new fires emerge, according to Acuna. He also mentioned that Cal Fire has deployed additional crews in Kern and Riverside counties.
Fire officials from Los Angeles stated that all available engines are operational, with 30 already allocated to high-risk fire areas. They also ordered that the outgoing shift of around 1,000 firefighters remain on duty to manage the additional engines effectively.
“This pre-deployment strategy is highly considered and methodical,” remarked a fire official.
