LOS ANGELES — Meteorological experts have issued warnings of hazardous winds sweeping across Southern California for an additional two days. New wildfires ignited on Tuesday, as two significant blazes in the Los Angeles area continued to rage into their third week. Officials are also gearing up to protect burned neighborhoods from toxic ash runoff as rain is anticipated over the weekend.
While wind speeds dropped slightly on Tuesday afternoon, with gusts reaching up to 60 mph in several locations, forecasters predict the return of gusty conditions starting Wednesday, according to Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Los Angeles. “Should a fire ignite, it could escalate rapidly,” Kittell cautioned. In response, red flag warnings indicating a high risk of fire have been extended through Thursday evening across Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Firefighters, along with air support, managed to quickly suppress several minor blazes that flared up in Los Angeles and San Diego counties, as noted by David Acuna, a spokesperson for Cal Fire. “Our focus is on preventing the next fire, the next ignition that leads to a larger wildfire,” said Acuna, who expressed concerns over the containment integrity of the larger blazes—the Palisades and Eaton fires—near Los Angeles.
As a limited number of residents were permitted to return to the Pacific Palisades area, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass enacted an executive order aimed at accelerating cleanup operations in fire-affected zones and addressing the environmental threats posed by fire-related pollutants. This directive includes measures like vegetation removal, hillside support, installation of protective barriers, and road reinforcement in anticipation of rain this weekend that could lead to mudslides and debris flows.
“This initiative seeks to minimize further harm to areas already affected by fire and guard our watersheds, beaches, and ocean from hazardous runoff,” Bass stated during a press briefing.
Predictions suggest a 60% to 80% probability of light rainfall beginning Saturday, with most regions expected to receive no more than a third of an inch of rain. Kittell warned that localized thunderstorms may bring up to an inch of rain, which could pose significant risks for initiating debris flows on already damaged hillsides. “However, if the rain does not arrive, it may serve as a useful exercise for those communities, as they will face similar threats for an extended period,” he added.
Mandatory evacuations took effect on Tuesday due to the emergence of the Friars Fire near a mall in San Diego, threatening nearby residences. In a positive turn, officials have lifted evacuation orders for the Lilac Fire in the Bonsall area, which scorched at least 85 acres of vegetation and endangered structures. Concurrently, firefighters achieved full containment of the Pala Fire, which was measured at 17 acres.
Los Angeles firefighters promptly extinguished a small brush fire near the Griffith Observatory. The fire’s suspected originator was apprehended. Quick responses also saw firefighters control minor blazes near Tujunga and along the 405 Freeway, which disrupted northbound traffic temporarily.
In a precautionary measure, Southern California Edison preemptively shut off power for over 60,000 customers across five counties to prevent fires ignited by fallen electrical equipment. The utility is considering additional outages affecting up to 202,000 clients.
Authorities continue to encourage residents to review their evacuation strategies, assemble emergency kits, and stay vigilant for any signs of fire in order to report them promptly. Mayor Bass also highlighted the potential for wind dispersion of ash, urging residents to visit local government resources for guidance on mitigating exposure to toxic air during the ongoing Santa Ana wind period.
As firefighters continue to manage the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have claimed at least 27 lives and destroyed over 14,000 structures since their ignition on January 7, conditions remain precarious due to low humidity and dry vegetation. The Palisades Fire is currently 61% contained, while the Eaton Fire has reached 87% containment.
The investigation into the major fires by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives is ongoing, with no preliminary conclusions announced. Several lawsuits have been initiated by individuals who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire, alleging that equipment from Southern California Edison triggered the fire. A court overseeing one of these lawsuits ordered the utility to provide circuit data from the region where the fire originated.
In a related development, President Donald Trump has expressed intentions to visit Los Angeles this coming Friday following criticism of wildfire response measures during his inaugural address.
