Southern California is facing extreme fire danger today as powerful gusts sweep through the region, fueling several small but rapidly growing wildfires and prompting urgent evacuations.
The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings for Los Angeles and Ventura counties, cautioning residents to prepare for intense winds and heightened fire risks through Wednesday. Winds in some areas are expected to reach between 80-100 mph, creating life-threatening conditions for firefighting and increasing the likelihood of new fires.
By Tuesday afternoon, a brush fire in the Pacific Palisades area had exploded in size, driven by 60 mph winds through residential neighborhoods in the Santa Monica Mountains. Firefighters are struggling to contain the blaze as embers are carried nearly a mile beyond the fire line, sparking new flames. Reports of burning structures have already emerged, and at 3:07 p.m. local time, an evacuation order was issued for residents in the Palisades area to leave immediately.
"This is a firefighting nightmare," an LA fire official remarked, noting how the gusty winds are hampering containment efforts. The current conditions echo similar wind-driven wildfires last month that devastated parts of Malibu and earlier this fall in Camarillo.
Southern California hasn’t seen significant rainfall since last April, leaving the landscape primed for disaster. Dry vegetation, coupled with ferocious winds, has turned the region into a tinderbox. "The risks this year are unprecedented," warns LAist’s Jacob Margolis, noting the increasing frequency and intensity of destructive wildfires in recent years.
As the winds pick up and the fires spread, residents are urged to stay informed, heed evacuation orders, and prepare for the worst.
* NPR contributed to this article.
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