LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dangerous winds returned to Southern California Tuesday as new wildfires broke out and two major fires in the Los Angeles area burned for a third week, while authorities were preparing to protect burned neighborhoods from toxic ash runoff before a potential. it’s raining this weekend.
Forecasters warned that gusts could peak at 70 mph (113 km/h) along the coast and 100 mph (160 km/h) in the mountains and foothills during extreme fire conditions expected to last until ‘until Tuesday afternoon.
The National Weather Service warned of a “particularly dangerous situation” in Los Angeles, Ventura and San Diego counties due to low humidity and powerful Santa Ana winds. Gusts will ease later today, but breezy conditions are expected through Thursday.
Fire trucks and water planes positioned throughout the region allowed crews to quickly extinguish several small fires that broke out over the holiday weekend, said David Acuna, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry. and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.
“Our concern is the next fire, the next spark that will cause the next wildfire,” Acuna said Tuesday. He said another concern was that the two major fires, the Palisades and Eaton fires near Los Angeles, could breach their containment lines.
Evacuation orders have been issued for the Lilac Fire in the San Diego area, which has burned at least 80 acres (32 hectares) of dry brush and was threatening structures around Bonsall early Tuesday, Cal Fire said. Meanwhile, crews stopped the progress of the nearby Pala Fire.
As a small number of residents were allowed to return to the devastated Pacific Palisades region, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order Tuesday aimed at accelerating cleanup efforts in burned areas and mitigating the environmental impacts of fire-related pollutants. She ordered crews to remove vegetation, shore up hillsides, install barriers and reinforce roads ahead of possible rain this weekend that could create mud and debris flows.
“This is about preventing additional damage to areas already ravaged by fires, and also about protecting our watershed, beaches and oceans from toxic runoff,” Bass said at a news conference.
Bass warned that winds could disperse ash and urged Angelenos to visit lacity.gov to learn more about ways to protect themselves from toxic air during Santa Ana’s latest wind event.
Los Angeles firefighters quickly extinguished a small brush fire Monday near the iconic Griffith Observatory, in a sprawling park overlooking the city. A man suspected of starting the fire was taken into custody, Los Angeles police said. Fire crews also quickly extinguished a small fire near Tujunga and another along Interstate 405 in the Granada Hills neighborhood, which temporarily closed northbound lanes.
Southern California Edison said it preemptively shut off power to more than 61,000 customers in five counties to prevent winds from toppling electrical equipment and starting new fires. The utility said it is considering precautionary closures for an additional 251,000 customers.
Authorities urged residents to review evacuation plans and prepare emergency kits, as well as to be alert to fires and report them promptly.
Low humidity, dry vegetation and high winds come as firefighters continue to battle the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have killed at least 27 people and destroyed more than 14,000 structures since they broke out on January 7. The Palisades Fire was 61 percent contained. and containment of the Eaton Fire reached 87 percent.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff visited Los Angeles on Monday after attending President Donald Trump’s inauguration and meeting with firefighters, volunteers and victims of the Eaton Fire in Altadena .
“We just came to thank (the firefighters), to thank the community and just remind people that we’re all in this together,” Harris said. She said their home in Pacific Palisades is still standing.
Trump, who criticized the wildfire response during his inaugural address, announced he would travel to Los Angeles on Friday.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that the devastation caused by the fires underscores the need for a partnership between the state and federal government.
“I look forward to President Trump’s visit to Los Angeles and his bringing the full weight of the federal government to bear to help our fellow Americans recover and rebuild,” Newsom said in a statement.
Associated Press radio reporter Julie Walker contributed from New York.
