Reinforcements mobilized amid high wildfire danger in LA, Ventura counties
Additional firefighting resources are on standby in Los Angeles and Ventura counties as high winds, low humidity and warm weather have combined to create conditions ripe for fast-moving and super-heated wildfires.
“This is a dangerous situation,” the National Weather Service said Wednesday afternoon in its online forecast discussion. “If a fire starts, the environment is such that extreme fire behavior and growth should be expected. The public needs to use extreme caution with any potential ignition sources” such as campfires, welding equipment, target shooting, cigarettes and mowers.
Gusts of 30 to 45 mph were expected in Los Angeles and Ventura counties on Wednesday, weakening by 5 to 10 mph each day heading into the weekend. Humidity of 5 to 15 percent was expected Wednesday before increasing through the weekend. High temperatures in the upper 80s were forecast through Sunday in those areas.
The weather service described the conditions as borderline critical fire weather.
On Tuesday, the state Office of Emergency Services moved five fire engines, 15 firefighters and a dispatcher into Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Each of the engines can pump 1,000 gallons of water per minute, the highest rate of any engine. Those resources will remain in place until conditions become less favorable for fire.
Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties will also be warm and dry through the end of the week, but the fire danger will not be as high in those areas, the weather service said. The high temperatures in the Inland valleys are forecast for the mid-80s through Sunday.
The mountains and deserts in those areas were cooler Wednesday than Tuesday as colder air moved in from the Great Basin.
The Santa Ana winds were strongest in the San Bernardino and Orange county mountains and foothills Wednesday. The strongest gust, 57 mph, was reported in Fremont Canyon in the Orange County mountains.
The wind kicked up so much dust across the Inland Empire that the South Coast Air Quality Management District issued an advisory for “very unhealthy air quality” until the winds subside for people living or working in Corona, Norco, the Perris valley, Riverside and the central San Bernardino valley.
“In areas directly impacted by windblown dust, everyone should avoid any vigorous outdoor or indoor exertion,” the air district said. “People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should remain indoors.”
Fire officials urge residents to have an evacuation plan in place and emergency kits at home; a full tank of gas and a charged cell phone; and sign up for emergency alerts. Evacuation plans can be found at the website ReadyForWildfire.org.
City News Service contributed to this report.