Southern California Braces For Dangerous Weather
Photo Courtesy of AP
LOS ANGELES (AP) — As winds intensified on Wednesday, Southern Californians remained on edge amid dangerous fire conditions. Two massive wildfires have killed at least 25 people and destroyed thousands of homes.
By early morning, gusts reached up to 55 mph in the mountains and 35 mph along the coast, with winds expected to continue through the day. “This is really just the last push of these winds,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Hall. After today, conditions are expected to improve.
The Eaton Fire north of Los Angeles and the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, which started on January 7, spread rapidly in similar conditions, fueled by high winds and dry conditions. A red flag warning was in effect from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a large area stretching from the Central Coast to the Mexican border. Over 90,000 homes were without power as utilities shut off electricity to prevent sparks.
Authorities urged residents to stay alert, with several arrests made for looting and other crimes. Three people were arrested on suspicion of arson after setting small fires outside disaster zones. The largest theft involved an Emmy award stolen from an evacuated home.
Firefighting efforts have increased with crews from other states and countries now assisting. Firefighters continued to battle flare-ups and new fires with planes dropping fire retardant and ground crews stationed in high-risk areas. Mayor Karen Bass expressed confidence in the region’s readiness despite criticism of the initial response.
The threat of strong winds continued to loom, though not as severe as last week, with concerns that wind could hinder firefighting aircraft. Firefighters quickly snuffed out smaller fires that popped up in the region, including one in the Angeles National Forest.
As the fires rage on, the death toll is expected to rise. Nearly 30 people remain missing, and about 90,000 people are still under evacuation orders. With no rain in over eight months, the region faces a rising number of wildfires, many concentrated in the Los Angeles area.
Hollywood has also been affected, with awards shows and announcements delayed due to the crisis.
