SoCal Braces For Extremely Dangerous, Hurricane-Force Winds Amid Fires

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — Firefighters across Southern California are bracing for "extremely dangerous" weather this week as powerful Santa Ana winds and bone-dry air threaten to intensify existing wildfires and spark new blazes in a region already devastated by fire.

The winds are sweeping back into a weary Los Angeles County, where wildfire-related deaths have climbed to at least 24 this week.

“The National Weather Service is predicting close-to hurricane-force winds, so we’re making urgent preparations,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said at a Monday news conference.

The National Weather Service issued a "Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning" for Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles counties, in effect from Monday night through Wednesday morning. Forecasters warned that hurricane-force wind gusts are possible in some areas on Tuesday, particularly in mountain passes and canyons, while relative humidity levels remain low.

The weather service's San Diego office said Monday that near the Cajon Pass, wind gusts could reach up to 80 or 90 mph late Tuesday night.

LA County Lindsey Horvath noted on Monday that "this was the prediction the National Weather Service had going into last week’s event."

Meanwhile, a red flag warning for "strong" gusty northeast winds and dry air was remains in effect for parts of Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties through Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Over in Los Angeles County, where two fires were still roaring out of control, thousands of firefighters and other first responders were bracing for another round of fire ignitions and increased wind-driven danger ahead.

"The anticipated winds, combined with low humidities and low fuel moistures will keep the fire threat in all of Los Angeles County critical," said Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone.

As of Monday morning, the coastal Palisades Fire had burned 23,713 acres and was just 14% contained and the inland Eaton Fire had scorched 14,117 acres and was 33% contained. Both fires ignited last Tuesday as powerful Santa Anas arrived.

The Palisades Fire has killed eight people, while the Eaton Fire further has killed 16 people, the LA County medical examiner's office said. At least 23 people are missing, and authorities expect that number to rise.

The Palisades Fire, which worsened over the weekend and spurred mass evacuations in Brentwood and Encino, has been dubbed the most devastating wildfire in LA County history. Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire has leveled much of Altadena and the entirety of the community remained closed to the public on Monday as authorities mined the ashes for human remains.
"In my career, I've never seen the amount of devastation and destruction that exists here," Section Chief Ernie Villa.

Residents across the county were on edge Monday, anxiously bracing for the possibility that an already historic disaster could worsen as similarly dangerous winds that sparked the Eaton and Palisades fires were set to return.

"With the dry conditions and winds increasing, it's possible that evacuation orders may increase," Los Angeles Police Department Assistant Chief Dominic Choi said Monday. "I know overnight we saw some of the evacuation orders turned into warnings, but we can absolutely see some of these order areas increase to mandatory evacuations again."

And just as many homes saw their power restored following last week's dangerous windstorm, another far-reaching round of public safety shutoffs was possible for swaths of the Southland beginning Monday.

More than 530,000 residents were at risk of losing power during the windstorm, officials said. But that number only accounts for safety shutoffs and not others that could be caused by fire or wind.

"I ask all Los Angeles County residents in wildfire-prone areas to understand that the necessary public safety power shut-offs are important for our collective safety in preventing the next wildfire natural disaster," Marrone said.

In anticipation of more power shutoffs, the National Weather Service urged residents in Los Angeles and Ventura counties to have multiple ways of getting online notifications amid the threat of more fires.

"Prepare ahead of time," forecasters wrote on social media.

SEE ALSO: These Are The Areas At Risk Of Power Shutoffs As Winds Pick Up, Fires Rage In SoCal