LOS ANGELES — Residents in Southern California are preparing for strong winds and a greater chance of wildfires, just under two weeks after several devastating fires claimed the lives of at least 27 individuals and destroyed thousands of homes.
The National Weather Service has issued warnings for a “particularly dangerous situation” affecting areas in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, effective from Monday afternoon until Tuesday morning due to the combination of low humidity and strong Santa Ana winds. Wind gusts may reach up to 70 mph (113 kph) along coastal regions and could peak at 100 mph (160 kph) in mountainous and foothill areas.
Meteorologist Rich Thompson from the National Weather Service stated that windy conditions combined with extremely low humidity levels are expected to persist through Thursday. He noted that the risk of fire is high since the area has not experienced rainfall since April.
Critical fire weather conditions with gusts up to 60 mph (97 kph) are also anticipated for communities as far south as San Diego during Monday and Tuesday. Residents are being advised to prepare for possible evacuations, which includes assembling emergency kits and ensuring vehicles have a minimum of half a tank of gas. Additionally, a dust and ash advisory has been issued as strong winds could carry ash from existing fire sites throughout the region.
These warnings arrive as firefighting efforts continue against two significant fires in the Los Angeles area: the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have collectively destroyed over 14,000 structures since they ignited amid fierce winds on January 7. As of Sunday, the Palisades fire was reported to be 52% contained, while the Eaton fire was at 81% containment, according to fire management officials.
Firefighters have made headway on controlling the Palisades fire, which has burned over 37 square miles (96 square kilometers) near the Pacific coastline. However, Dan Collins, spokesperson for the Palisades fire incident, warned that certain interior areas remain active. “In a red flag warning, there exists the possibility that something hot or burning from within the interior could be swept up and carried across containment lines,” Collins cautioned.
Despite firefighters’ confidence in containing the Eaton fire, there are worries about the potential for new fires emerging, especially given the unusually dry vegetation for this season, as indicated by Carlos Herrera, spokesperson for the Eaton fire.
In response to these fire risks, California Governor Gavin Newsom has mobilized fire engines, water-dropping aircraft, and hand crews throughout the affected region to enable swift responses if new fires emerge, as stated by the governor’s office of emergency services. They emphasized that this proactive preparedness has been a crucial part of California’s wildfire response strategy, enabling quicker actions and preventing fires from escalating.
Damage assessments are still underway for both the Palisades and Eaton fires nearly two weeks after their onset. Inspectors have been deployed to evaluate buildings and determine the extent of the damage. However, Collins mentioned that it remains uncertain whether the remaining structures within the Palisades fire’s perimeter have suffered any damage. “Our damage inspection teams are about two-thirds complete with their evaluations,” said Collins.
Fire officials are prioritizing the resettlement of evacuated residents, having recently permitted locals to return to the highlands area of Pacific Palisades on Sunday. Meanwhile, two individuals were arrested on Saturday for trying to enter an evacuation zone designated for the Palisades fire. They are under investigation for impersonating firefighters. Dressed in firefighting gear, the duo claimed to be from an Oregon fire agency, but authorities confirmed they were not affiliated with any such organization, and the vehicle they were using had been acquired at auction, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County sheriff’s department.
