Southern California is bracing for another round of extreme fire weather as strong winds and new wildfires flare across the region. On Tuesday, as multiple wildfires burned for a third consecutive week, officials began preparing for potential rain this weekend, which could lead to toxic ash runoff.
The National Weather Service issued warnings of “particularly dangerous conditions” across Los Angeles, Ventura, and San Diego counties. Santa Ana winds have returned with gusts forecasted to reach up to 70 mph (113 kph) along the coast and up to 100 mph (160 kph) in mountainous areas. The combination of these powerful winds and low humidity has created a highly volatile environment for wildfires. While the winds are expected to subside by late Tuesday, the heightened fire risk will remain through Thursday.
As wildfires continue to rage, local firefighters managed to quickly extinguish smaller blazes that broke out over the holiday weekend. “Our concern is the next fire, the next spark that causes the next wildfire,” said David Acuna, a spokesman for Cal Fire. Authorities remain on alert for larger fires, such as the Palisades and Eaton fires near Los Angeles, which pose a risk of breaching containment lines.
In San Diego County, the Friars Fire erupted on Tuesday near a shopping mall, prompting immediate evacuation orders as the flames rapidly approached nearby homes. “The Friars Fire is one of the many blazes we’re battling during this dangerous wind event,” Cal Fire reported.
Meanwhile, evacuation orders were lifted for the Lilac Fire in Bonsall, which burned at least 85 acres (34 hectares) of dry brush without causing structural damage. Nearby, crews fully contained the 17-acre (7-hectare) Pala Fire.
As the region braces for potential rainfall, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has taken proactive measures to mitigate the environmental impact of wildfires. She signed an executive order to expedite cleanup efforts in burn areas, prioritizing vegetation removal, road reinforcement, and the installation of barriers to prevent mudslides and debris flows. “This is to prevent additional damage to areas already ravaged by fire, and also to protect our watershed, beaches and ocean from toxic runoff,” Bass explained.
Rain is forecasted for the weekend, with a 60% to 80% chance of light showers across Southern California. Meteorologists have warned that localized thunderstorms could bring up to an inch (2.5 cm) of rain, potentially triggering dangerous debris flows in fire-scarred hillsides. “Even if the rain doesn’t materialize this time, it could be a good practice run for those communities because this will be a threat that they’ll have to deal with for months or years,” said Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service.
Wildfire in California
Amid the ongoing fires, authorities continue to battle the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have claimed at least 27 lives and destroyed over 14,000 structures since January 7. As of Tuesday, the Palisades Fire was 61% contained, and the Eaton Fire was 87% contained. Both fires remain a top priority for firefighting crews.
On Monday, former Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff visited Los Angeles to express their gratitude to firefighters, volunteers, and victims of the Eaton Fire in Altadena. “We just came out to thank (firefighters), to thank the community and just remind folks that we’re all in this together,” Harris said, adding that their home in Pacific Palisades had not been damaged.
California Governor Gavin Newsom also addressed the crisis, stressing the importance of federal and state cooperation in responding to the devastation. “I look forward to President Trump’s visit to Los Angeles and his mobilization of the full weight of the federal government to help our fellow Americans recover and rebuild,” Newsom said in a statement.
As the fires rage on and the winds continue to howl, authorities are urging residents to stay vigilant, review evacuation plans, and prepare emergency kits. Southern California Edison has already shut off power to over 61,000 customers across five counties and is considering further shutoffs for an additional 251,000 customers to prevent wind-related sparks. With the situation still developing, Southern California residents remain on high alert as they face the ongoing threat of wildfires and extreme weather conditions.
