Wind gusts begin overnight prompting closures, power shut-offs
What forecasters said was possibly the strongest wind event so far this season blew in overnight in Southern California. It brought with it Wednesday morning, Oct. 30, road closures in some areas, power shut-offs and apparently another brush fire.
After weeks of fighting blazes, fire officials braced for this bout of Santa Ana winds of 50 mph to 70 mph, with gusts up to 80. The winds are expected to continue through Thursday.
A red-flag warning is in effect for most of the Southern California through 6 p.m. Thursday as the gusts are paired with single-digit humidity heightening the fire danger, according to the National Weather Service.
Early morning, a brush fire broke out in Simi Valley near the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and threatening homes. Immediate evacuations were ordered in the area around the library and on both sides of Tierra Rejada Road toward Wood Ranch Road.
The condition also led to the closure Wednesday morning of roads in Woodland Hills and Topanga until Thursday evening, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Topanga Canyon Boulevard between Mulholland Drive and Pacific Coast Highway and Old Topanga Canyon Road between Mulholland Drive and Topanga Canyon Boulevard were closed.
In Orange County, the Irvine, Peters Canyon and Santiago Oaks regional parks were closed as well as the OC Zoo and historic Modjeska House due to the hazardous wind conditions.
By 6 a.m. Southern California Edison on Wednesday had shut off power to 37,981 customers in Los Angeles, Kern, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties. The utility company warned that another 304,154 were at risk of losing power as the gusts descended on the area.
Strong winds could force firefighting helicopters to be grounded, Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Ralph Terrazas said Tuesday. That decision would be “a drastic move,” he said, as they have been instrumental in the battle against the Getty fire in Brentwood which has destroyed 12 homes.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.