‘Dangerous fire weather conditions’ predicted in Southern California
FILE - This photo taken by Pacific Palisades resident Darrin Hurwitz shows the Palisades fire as it approaches homes in Los Angeles, Jan. 7, 2025.
The National Weather Service (NWS) is predicting even more “dangerous fire weather conditions” in Southern California, citing the area’s “low humidity and the return of very strong winds” from Monday into Tuesday.
“Take action now to prepare your home and loved ones for another round of EXTREME WIND and FIRE WEATHER, starting tomorrow afternoon: Worst winds Mon afternoon – Tue morning,” NWS Los Angeles posted on social media platform X.
“Everyone needs to be on high alert,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Monday.
Brice Bennett, spokesperson for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), said in a statement Monday that his agency — with help from federal, local and tribal firefighting agencies — had more than 2,500 people and had prepositioned equipment for quick deployment for any new outbreaks, following the NWS warning.
At least 27 people have died in the fires that have erupted across Los Angeles, as battle-weary firefighters have struggled to bring the blazes under control. The death toll is expected to rise.
In photos: Wildfires rage in California
1/20A McDonald's restaurant is showered in embers during the Eaton Fire in Pasadena, California, Jan. 7, 2025. A ferocious wildfire in a Los Angeles suburb devoured buildings and sparked panicked evacuations, as hurricane-force winds tore through the region. More than 200 acres (80 hectares) was burning in Pacific Palisades, a upscale spot with multi-million dollar homes in the Santa Monica Mountains. Across town, on the northern edge of Los Angeles, another fire broke out in Eaton Canyon, near Pasadena, quickly consuming 200 acres (81 hectares) later in the night, according to Angeles National Forest officials.
2/20A surfer takes off on a wave in Santa Monica, California, during sunset under a blackened sky from the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades, Jan. 7, 2025.
3/20A home burns during the Eaton Fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles County, California, Jan. 8, 2025.
4/20A firefighter works at the scene as dozens of homes continue to burn during the Eaton Fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles County, California, Jan. 8, 2025.
5/20A residence burns as a firefighter battles the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Jan. 7, 2025.
6/20A resident of a senior center is evacuated as the Eaton Fire approaches, Jan. 7, 2025, in Altadena, California.
7/20Water is dropped on the advancing Palisades Fire by helicopter in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Jan. 7, 2025.
8/20The Palisades Fire burns a Christmas tree inside a residence in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, Jan. 7, 2025.
9/20Elderly patients are quickly evacuated into an armored vehicle as embers and flames approach during the Eaton Fire in Pasadena, California, Jan. 7, 2025.
10/20A playground burns in a residential neighborhood during the Eaton fire in Pasadena, California, Jan. 7, 2025.
11/20A home is engulfed in flames during the Eaton fire in Pasadena, California, Jan. 7, 2025.
12/20A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire as it burns during a windstorm on the west side of Los Angeles, California, Jan. 7, 2025.
13/20The Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center burns during the Eaton fire in Pasadena, California, Jan. 7, 2025.
14/20The Palisades Fire ravages amid high winds in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Jan. 7, 2025.
15/20The Palisades Fire burns a residence in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Jan. 7, 2025.
16/20A firefighter battles the advancing Palisades Fire as it burns a structure in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Jan. 7, 2025.
17/20A woman cries as the Palisades Fire advances in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Jan. 7, 2025.
18/20A vehicle burns as the Palisades Fire advances in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Jan. 7, 2025.
19/20Residents of a senior center are evacuated as the Eaton Fire approaches, Jan. 7, 2025, in Altadena, California.
20/20Firefighters battle the Palisades Fire as it burns multiple structures in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Jan. 7, 2025.
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The Palisades and Eaton fires together have destroyed 14,000 structures since they exploded January 7, during the fierce Santa Ana winds. As of Monday, the Palisades fire was 59% contained and the Eaton fire was 87% contained.
A critical-risk-of-fire-weather warning has been issued by the Storm Prediction Center for Southern California with gusts expected to reach up to 96 kph for lower elevations and 120 kph or more in higher locations. The weather service said there is an extremely critical risk in place for the ongoing fire locations in the San Gabriel and Santa Monica mountains.
California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order Monday designed to protect Southern California residents from landslides and flooding. The order suspends some rules and regulations and speeds up the removal of debris that, if not removed promptly, could result in landslides, mudslides and flash floods.
“This order helps keep our emergency response focused on protecting communities, not permits and paperwork,” Newsom said.
Residents whose homes have somehow survived the fires are finding they are not home free. According to The New York Times, people are finding their homes still standing but filled with a slurry of smoke, ash, chemicals and other contaminants.
“It smelled worse inside our house than outside,” resident Marcos Barron, 53, told the Times. Another resident, Arlynn Page, said she wanted to stay to rebuild in Altadena because she loves the community. “But breathing this air? I don’t know,” she said.
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