As firefighters continue to fight two large flames in the Los Angeles area that began in similar weather about two weeks ago, windy and dry conditions returned to Southern California on Monday, increasing the likelihood that additional wildfires would break out.
Extreme fire weather is predicted through Tuesday, with gusts peaked at 70 mph along the coast and 100 mph in the foothills and mountains.
Due to low humidity and damaging Santa Anawinds, the National Weather Service warned of a particularly perilous situation for portions of Ventura and Los Angeles counties from Monday afternoon into Tuesday early.
According to Andrew Rorke, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard, the circumstances are ideal for a fire to grow explosively if it does start.
Although he noted that more gusty winds would come to the area on Thursday, Rorke stated that a little rain in the weekend forecast was encouraging.
In order to avoid starting a fire, authorities advised people not to mow their lawns or start any fires that might get out of control. Additionally, they requested that locals prepare emergency kits, review their evacuation plans, and keep an eye out for any new fires and promptly report them.
The Palisades and Eaton Fires breaching their containment lines and a new fire igniting are the main worries, according to David Acuna, a spokesman with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Acuna advised against doing anything that could start a new fire so that we could concentrate on putting out the ones that are already there.
Strong Santa Ana winds, bone-dry vegetation, and low humidity are all present as firefighters continue to combat the Palisades and Eaton fires, two significant flames in the Los Angeles area that have damaged over 14,000 structures since they started on January 7 due to strong winds. Fire officials reported that the Eaton fire was 87% contained and the Palisades fire was 59% contained on Monday.
Authorities announced that only residents will be permitted to return to the Pacific Palisades after presenting evidence of residency at a checkpoint, and they removed more evacuation orders for the area on Monday. The Los Angeles County sheriff’s department reports that two individuals posing as firefighters tried to enter a Palisades Fire evacuation zone over the weekend.
Karen Bass, the mayor of Los Angeles, stated on Monday that the city was ready for any potential new fires and cautioned that the high winds might spread ash from fire areas in Southern California. To discover how to protect themselves from harmful air during Santa Ana winds, she encouraged Angelenos to visit lacity.gov.
According to Acuna, Cal Fire and local fire departments have set up hand crews, water-dropping planes, and fire engines throughout the area to facilitate a prompt response in the event that a new fire breaks out.
According to Acuna, Cal Fire had more firemen in the counties of Kern and Riverside.
According to Los Angeles fire authorities, the agency has all of its engines ready and has placed thirty of them in high-risk locations for fires. In order to staff the additional engines, the department also mandated that the approximately 1,000 firefighters who were on duty during the departing shift stay on duty.
According to Crowley, the pre-deployment is extremely strategic and well-thought-out.
Firefighters in Los Angeles swiftly extinguished a tiny brush fire that started south of Griffith Observatory on Monday afternoon.
The Associated Press
