Risk of Wildfires Is High Today

A red flag warning indicating a high risk of wildfire due to high winds and low humidity was in force today in mountain, valley and forest areas of Southern California.

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The warning was scheduled to be in effect until 9 tonight in the Santa Monica mountains.

National Weather Service forecasters said northeast winds between 15 and 30 miles per hour, with gusts of up to 50 mph, would blow through the red flag zones amid humidity levels ranging from 4 to 15 percent.

The Los Angeles Fire Department pre-deployed extra firefighters at staging areas in communities at high risk of brush fires, predominantly in the San Fernando Valley and Hollywood areas, as did the Los Angeles County Fire Department, especially near Malibu.

Nine water-tender vehicles, each carrying 1,000 gallons of water, were staffed and ready to deploy. Also, additional personnel were assigned to fire stations to cover normal firefighting assignments while extra patrols were on the lookout for brush fire problems.

Along with the red flag warning, a wind advisory was posted in the Santa Monica mountains until 4 this afternoon.

The NWS forecast highs today of 83 at LAX; 87 in downtown L.A., Burbank and Pasadena; 88 in Anaheim; and 91 in Woodland Hills.

Thursday’s temperatures are expected to be the same or a few degrees higher.

--City News Service

PHOTO Patch file photo.