LOS ANGELES — Southern California, which is dry and in need of water, is expected to have strong winds on Wednesday. However, rain is predicted for this weekend, which could help reduce the chances of serious wildfires. Still, even a little rain can lead to problems like toxic ash washing away.
Los Angeles officials were getting ready for this possibility while a few residents were allowed to return to the damaged Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas. Firefighters quickly put out small fires that started.
On Tuesday, Mayor Karen Bass announced an order to speed up cleanup in places affected by fires and to reduce the harmful effects of fire-related pollution. She asked teams to clear plants, support the hills, set up barriers, and strengthen roads before the possible rain this weekend, which might cause mudslides and garbage flows.
“During a news conference, Bass said this is to stop more damage to places already hurt by fire and to keep our water sources, beaches, and ocean safe from harmful runoff.”
Los Angeles County supervisors also passed an emergency motion to install flood control infrastructure and expedite and remove sediment in fire-impacted areas.
There is a 60% to 80% chance of light rain in Southern California starting Saturday. Most places are expected to get less than a third of an inch (0.8 cm) of rain, according to Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Los Angeles. Localized thunderstorms could drop up to an inch (2.5 centimeters) of rain, which might cause debris flows on burned mountains in a worst-case situation.
“Even if it doesn’t rain this time, it could help those communities prepare for future threats they will face for months or years,” Kittell said.
In 2018, Montecito, a town 80 miles (130 kilometers) up the coast from Los Angeles, was ravaged by mudslides after a downpour hit mountain sides burned bare by a huge wildfire. Twenty-three people died, and hundreds of homes were injured.
Winds slowed down a bit on Tuesday afternoon after reaching 60 mph in many places, but strong winds were expected to come back in the next two days. Red flag warnings for a high fire risk have been extended until 8 p.m. Thursday in LA and Ventura counties.
David Acuna, a spokeswoman for Cal Fire, said, “We are worried about the next fire and what might spark another wildfire.” Another concern was that the Palisades and Eaton fires might get out of control, even as firemen are monitoring hot spots.
Fire trucks and water-dropping planes helped workers quickly put out several small fires that started in LA and San Diego counties, officials said.
Evacuation orders were ended for the Friars Fire near a San Diego mall and were partly dropped for the Lilac Fire, which burned through dry brush and posed a threat to some buildings, according to Cal Fire. Nearby teams completely controlled the Pala Fire, which was another small fire.
Southern California Edison turned off power for safety to over 60,000 customers in five counties to stop new fires caused by strong winds knocking down power lines. Some customers later had their electricity turned back on. The utility was thinking about temporarily shutting off service for another 160,000 users as a safety measure.
Officials asked people to check their evacuation plans, get emergency supplies ready, and watch for fires, reporting any they see right away.
Bass warned that winds could blow ash around and suggested that people in Los Angeles check the city’s website for tips on how to stay safe from polluted air during the current Santa Ana wind event.
Low humidity, dry plants, and strong winds made it harder for firefighters fighting the Palisades and Eaton fires. These fires, which started on January 7, have killed at least 28 people and burned over 14,000 buildings. The Palisades Fire is 63% contained, while the Eaton Fire is 89% contained.
The government Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is looking into what started the fires, but they haven’t shared any results yet.
People who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire have filed claims, claiming that Southern California Edison equipment started the fire. On Tuesday a judge overseeing one of the cases ordered the utility to produce data from circuits in the area where the fire started.
President Donald Trump, who spoke out against the reaction to the wildfires during his inauguration speech on Monday, plans to visit Los Angeles on Friday.
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