Los Angeles area will face stronger Santa Ana winds: NPR

As firefighters battle the Eaton and Palisades fires in Southern California, strong Santa Ana winds are once again pounding the fire-ravaged region, posing new risks of fires spreading and trigger new ones.

The National Weather Service has issued “particularly dangerous” red flag warnings that will last from noon Monday to 10 a.m. local time Tuesday for much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties and other areas of southern California. California. Mild temperatures, low humidity and expected strong winds and powerful gusts in the mountains and foothills create an ideal environment for fires to spread quickly, the National Weather Service warned.

“This is already the third ‘particularly dangerous’ warning signal issued for the month of January, which is unprecedented in this region,” National Weather Service meteorologist James White said during a briefing. press Monday morning.

Red flag warnings are expected to last through Thursday as forecasts indicate strong winds and low humidity are unlikely to ease anytime soon. Faced with the imminent threat, authorities urged residents in affected areas to prepare to evacuate, if ordered.

In anticipation of this week’s fires, Gov. Gavin Newsom has mobilized “more than 130 fire trucks, water tankers and planes to Southern California, as well as personnel,” his office announced Sunday.

“Recent firestorms in Los Angeles have illustrated the importance of being in the right place at the right time. By strategically placing specialized personnel and equipment in wildfire-prone areas, crews are able to respond more quickly and more aggressively,” Newsom said in a statement. statement. “These conditions are dangerous, so it is up to all families to remain vigilant.”

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection also “deployed and positioned” more than 790 firefighters and 76 trucks, hand crews, bulldozers and aircraft in Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino, San Diego and Riverside counties and Kern.

These extreme fire conditions come as fire crews continue to battle the highly destructive Eaton and Palisades fires, nearly two weeks after they first broke out. A brief weather break allowed firefighters to achieve 87% containment on the Eaton Fire and 59% containment on the Palisades Fire Monday morning. Both fires started on January 7. At least 27 people died and thousands of homes and businesses were destroyed.

California’s prolonged drought, which is causing unprecedented levels of dryness for fuels including grass, trees, fallen leaves and other combustible materials, is only contributing to unprecedented fire risks.

“The resulting level of fuel volatility would be notable during the summer months and extraordinary in January,” according to the latest advisory on fuels and fire behavior from the National Interagency Fire Center, a combination of federal and state agencies who provide support for fires. -ground forest firefighting efforts. The center said it was the first time such an advisory had been issued.

There appears to be little or no change in weather conditions through the end of the month as, according to the National Interagency Fire Center, “fuels will remain highly susceptible to ignition and spread, maintaining the risk of major fires.