Forecasters are warning of extreme fire danger across Los Angeles, where firefighters are still working to contain the multiple blazes that have engulfed parts of the county for the past week.
The National Weather Service (NWS) expects winds to peak between 4 a.m Tuesday and noon on Wednesday, with gusts of up to 60 and 70 miles per hour in LA and Ventura counties.
While generally weaker than last week’s, this next batch of high winds could down trees, cut power, endanger drivers and — most alarmingly — fuel new and existing fires in the area. The NWS warns they could cause “explosive fire growth.”
“Stay aware of your surroundings. Be ready to evacuate. Avoid anything that can spark a fire,” it says.
There are four active fires as of Tuesday morning, according to Cal Fire: The Palisades and Eaton fires have burned a collective 37,830 acres since last Tuesday, and are 14% and 33% contained, respectively.
The Hurst Fire, which also started last Tuesday, is at 97% containment after burning almost 800 acres. The Auto Fire has burned about 56 acres in nearby Ventura County since it broke out late Monday. Firefighters have stopped its forward progress, though have not yet contained any of it.
“In the first 11 days of the year there have been more than 40,300 acres burned from 105 fires,” Deputy State Fire Marshal Brice Bennett saidover the weekend. “With an estimated 12,000 structures destroyed, this makes the Eaton and Palisades fire likely the second and fourth most destructive fires in California’s history.”
The fires have placed hundreds of thousands of residents under evacuation orders and warnings, forcing many to flee their homes and risking the lives of those staying behind. The LA County Medical Examiner is investigating a total of 24 fire-related deaths as of Monday afternoon, 16 from the Eaton Fire and eight from the Palisades Fire.
The causes of all four active fires are currently under investigation.
Authorities warn of extreme fire danger and possible power shutoffs
A large swath of southwest California is under red flag warnings through Wednesday, meaning there is a high risk for rapid fire growth if a fire starts.
Two smaller areas within LA and Ventura counties are considered to be in “a particularly dangerous situation” (PDS), the rarest and most extreme level of red flag warning. It has historically preceded especially destructive blazes, including the Palisades and Eaton fires.
“PDS Red Flag Warnings are for the extreme of the extreme fire weather scenarios,” the NWS tweeted. “In other words, this setup is about as bad as it gets.”
Authorities are warning residents to monitor emergency alerts and take precautions to avoid starting any fires. Those include not using lawnmowers on dry vegetation, ensuring trailer chains do not drag on the ground and never throwing cigarettes or matches out of a vehicle.
The county itself may also take additional steps. The LA Department of Water and Power said Monday that local fire authorities may ask it to “de-energize power lines as a preventative measure” in certain areas while the red flag warning is in effect.
It is asking customers in high-risk areas to be prepared for possible prolonged outages, potentially over 48 hours, by keeping their phones charged and a portable charger, flashlight and extra batteries nearby.
