California is facing another wave of dangerous wildfires as fierce winds continue to fuel the flames. Firefighters are on high alert as extreme fire conditions threaten to spark new blazes, especially in areas still dealing with two major fires that have been burning in the Los Angeles region for two weeks. The strong winds are expected to continue through Tuesday morning, with gusts reaching up to 70 mph (113 kph) along the coast and up to 100 mph (160 kph) in the mountains and foothills.
The National Weather Service has issued a warning for parts of Los Angeles, Ventura, and San Diego counties, citing particularly dangerous conditions due to low humidity and the damaging Santa Ana winds. Meteorologists are urging residents to be aware of the extreme fire risk, as conditions are perfect for explosive fire growth. “The conditions are ripe for explosive fire growth should a fire start,” said Andrew Rorke, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
On Monday, firefighters were able to quickly put out a small brush fire that broke out near the famous Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. A suspect was arrested in connection with starting the fire. Fire crews also swiftly contained another brush fire along the northbound lanes of Interstate 405 in Granada Hills, Los Angeles, temporarily closing the road. Further south in San Diego County, firefighters worked hard to stop the spread of a fire in Poway.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, flew to Los Angeles after attending President Trump’s inauguration to thank firefighters, volunteers, and victims of the Eaton Fire in Altadena. “We just came out to thank (firefighters), to thank the community and just remind folks that we’re all in this together,” Harris said. She added that her home in Pacific Palisades was still standing.
President Trump, who had criticized the wildfire response during his inaugural address, is expected to visit Los Angeles on Friday to address the situation. Governor Gavin Newsom, who spoke about the ongoing devastation, stressed the need for a united effort between the state and federal governments to help the region recover. “I look forward to President Trump’s visit to Los Angeles and his mobilization of the full weight of the federal government to help our fellow Americans recover and rebuild,” Newsom said in a statement.
While a small amount of rain is expected to fall in Los Angeles this weekend, more gusty winds are anticipated to return on Thursday. In the meantime, authorities are warning residents to be extra cautious and avoid actions that could start a new fire. They are urging people not to mow their lawns or start any fires that could get out of control. Residents are also being reminded to review their evacuation plans, prepare emergency kits, and report any new fires quickly.
David Acuna, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said the biggest concern is the risk of the Palisades and Eaton fires breaking their containment lines, or the possibility of new fires starting. “Don’t do things to start another fire so we can focus on the mitigation of the current fires,” Acuna said.
The continuing battle against the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have already claimed 27 lives and destroyed more than 14,000 structures, is causing major concern for officials. Since the fires started on January 7, firefighters have managed to contain a significant portion of the fires, with the Palisades fire being 61% contained and the Eaton fire 87% contained as of Tuesday morning.
On Monday, more evacuation orders were lifted for the Pacific Palisades area, and authorities allowed only residents with proof of residency to return. Over the weekend, two men posing as firefighters tried to enter the evacuation zone for the Palisades Fire, but they were stopped by the Los Angeles County sheriff’s department.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass assured residents that the city was prepared for any potential new fires. She warned that the strong winds could spread ash from existing fire zones across Southern California. Mayor Bass also advised people to visit the city’s website to learn how to protect themselves from the toxic air caused by the winds.
Firefighters have positioned fire engines, water-dropping aircraft, and hand crews throughout the region, ready for a quick response should a new fire break out. Acuna confirmed that Cal Fire had extra crews stationed in Kern and Riverside counties to help combat any new fires. Los Angeles fire officials said they have made sure all available engines are ready and that 30 of them had been strategically placed in high-risk areas. In addition, they ordered about 1,000 firefighters to stay on duty to support the extra engines.
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