Southern California is facing a renewed threat of wildfires as strong Santa Ana winds and extremely dry conditions create a “particularly dangerous situation” just weeks after devastating fires claimed at least 27 lives and destroyed thousands of homes, The Associated Press reports.
The National Weather Service has issued a warning for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, effective from Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning, citing the combination of low humidity and powerful winds.
Gusts are expected to peak at 70 mph along the coast and 100 mph in the mountains and foothills. Meteorologist Rich Thompson of the National Weather Service said the windy and dry weather is expected to linger through Thursday. Adding to the risk, the region has seen virtually no rain since April, leaving vegetation extremely dry.
Critical fire weather conditions, with gusts up to 60 mph , are also forecast for communities stretching to San Diego on Monday and Tuesday. Residents are being urged to prepare for potential evacuations, including creating emergency kits and keeping their vehicles with at least half a tank of gas. A windblown dust and ash advisory has also been issued due to the potential for high winds to spread ash from recent fire zones.
The warnings come as firefighters continue to battle the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have destroyed over 14,000 structures since igniting on January 7. While firefighters have made significant progress, with the Palisades fire 52% contained and the Eaton fire 81% contained as of Sunday, concerns remain about the potential for new fires.
Dan Collins, a spokesperson for the Palisades fire incident, said that while progress has been made on the perimeter of the 37-square-mile blaze, some areas within the fire’s interior continue to burn. Carlos Herrera, a spokesperson for the Eaton fire, expressed confidence that the fire would remain contained but highlighted the heightened risk of a new fire starting due to the exceptionally dry vegetation.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has deployed fire engines, water-dropping aircraft, and hand crews across the region to ensure a swift response to any new outbreaks. Damage assessments are ongoing, but fire officials cautioned that a full picture of the extent of destruction is still unclear. Residents were allowed to return to the hillside area of Pacific Palisades known as the highlands on Sunday as firefighting efforts progressed.
In a strange turn, two individuals were arrested Saturday for attempting to enter an evacuation zone while impersonating firefighters. The pair, who were dressed in turnout gear and falsely claimed to be from an Oregon fire agency, were driving a truck purchased at auction, according to the Los Angeles County sheriff’s department.
