San Diego – Dry plants and strong winds caused high fire danger in Southern California on Wednesday. The area, already stressed by fires, stayed alert as crews made progress on several blazes and got ready for rain this weekend.
Red flag warnings were issued for parts of Los Angeles, Ventura, and San Diego counties until Thursday night because of low humidity and stronger Santa Ana winds, as reported by the National Weather Service. Winds are expected to reach up to 50 mph, with some places in the mountains possibly seeing gusts of 75 mph.
A weather service red flag warning said, “If a fire starts, the conditions could lead to dangerous fire behavior and fast fire spread, putting lives and property at risk.”
Firefighters in San Diego County worked to put out a few small brush fires on Tuesday, and they were able to control them quickly. The Lilac Fire, the biggest fire, destroyed 85 acres and was 90% under control by Wednesday morning. Teams also worked to put out the nearby Friars and Pala fires, along with the Riverview and Clay fires in Riverside County.
In Los Angeles, firefighters have made progress in controlling the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have burned over 15,000 buildings and resulted in the deaths of at least 28 people. Officials have warned that the weather may cause the fires to spread or start new ones.
As officials ended evacuation orders and some residents went back home, they got ready for important rain expected this weekend. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order to speed up cleaning efforts and reduce the effects of potential “toxic runoff.”
Power outages in the San Diego area have left thousands without electricity.
Tens of thousands of people in the San Diego area woke up in the dark on Wednesday as power shutoffs continued amid high winds and relentlessly dry weather.
San Diego Gas and Electric Company stopped service to over 15,000 homes and businesses in the hills and mountains of San Diego County. Another 68,000 utility customers might be affected by the shutoffs, based on how strong the winds are.
The electricity company said power outages might last until Friday. It opened resource centers where people dealing with power outages can get drinks, ice, snacks, and charge their phones.
Rain is expected in Southern California this weekend.
Rain is expected to alleviate extreme fire conditions in Southern California this weekend, bringing a much-needed reprieve for thousands of firefighters, though officials warn the precipitation could also bring possible hazards to the region.
“Almost every area in coastal Southern California and the Southern California mountains is expected to get some rain this weekend,” said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Houk in an online prediction.
Downtown Los Angeles has not had any significant rain since December 24, when it received just 0.02 inches, according to AccuWeather.
Before the rain, Bass made an executive order to protect areas damaged by fire and stop harmful debris from flowing into nearby water. She said this is to avoid more damage and to keep our water, beaches, and ocean safe from pollution.
The order required putting up barriers, removing trash, and redirecting stormwater from the city’s storm system to the sewer system, so the water can be cleaned.
Officials report that the Clay Fire in Riverside County is now under control. Firefighters have managed to stop the spread of the fire that started on the riverbed in Jurupa Valley on Tuesday.
The Clay Fire was reported at about 5 p.m. and quickly grew to 39 acres, leading to evacuation orders. Cal Fire reported that plants were on fire at the bottom of the Santa Ana River. The thick fuel caused the fire to burn slowly.
A few hours later, the warnings were removed as firemen cleaned up the last of the embers. Cal Fire is still looking into what started the fire. As of late Tuesday night, containment was at 40%.
Firefighters are making headway in controlling the Palisades and Eaton fires.
As of Wednesday morning, the Palisades Fire had burned 23,448 acres and was 68% contained, according to Cal Fire. The Eaton Fire has burned 14,021 acres and is 91% under control.
“Firefighters are making good progress, and officials are looking at evacuation orders again to make sure people can return safely,” stated an operations report on the Palisades Fire. Teams are working with utility companies to fix damaged infrastructure and deal with dangers like fallen trees and broken power lines. People are warned to stay alert about fire conditions right now.
Cal Fire said firemen are still working to create control lines and put out hot spots inside the fire area.
At least 28 people have died in two fires, according to a report from the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner on Tuesday. At least 17 people lost their lives in the Eaton Fire, and another 11 died in the Palisades Fire.
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