LA region faces another ‘potentially dangerous situation’ with high winds and fire threat
Containment of Palisades and Eaton fires increases despite fears of additional Santa Ana winds.
Another “potentially dangerous situation red flag warning” rocked Southern California Monday afternoon, Jan. 20, as fire personnel prepare for the prospect of new flames with troublesome winds while still fighting to suppress two of the most damaging fires in the history of Los Angeles County.
The third such official warning this month was “unprecedented for this area,” said James White, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service meteorologist James White said during a morning briefing on the Eaton fire. It was planned to continue until 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21.
Then, the winds were anticipated to calm down, remaining brisk throughout Thursday evening — but still with dry weather. There is a risk of light precipitation in the fire zones on Saturday and Sunday.
White said this windstorm will lie between the previous two — weaker than the one on Jan. 7, when the flames ignited, but stronger than a second wave last week that fell below forecasters’ estimates.
“We’re expecting today two main concerns — one is that it’s going to get dry very, very quickly,” White added. “The second thing we’re expecting is strong northeast winds.”
Peak wind gusts may reach upward of 70 mph in coastal and valley regions and 100 mph in the highlands, according to the NWS.
Fire authorities combating both the Eaton and Palisades fires said they were prepared in the case of a new fire or the extension of an existing one.
Firefighters and equipment were positioned in high-risk regions throughout the county while more resources were sitting poised at a mobilization center in Beaumont, ready to deploy.
But firefighting aircraft and helicopters might be grounded if the gusts whip up over 30 to 40 mph.
“That limits what the aircraft can do,” said Dennis Burns, a fire-behavior analyst on the Eaton fire.
Robert Garcia, fire chief for the U.S. Forest Service, said Monday morning, Jan. 20, there were no present plans to halt aircraft. Pilots, however, would check the wind during takeoffs.
The windstorm was to come as fire firefighters kept working with containment on both the Eaton and Palisades fires.
Aircraft continued to support crews fighting the Eaton by suppressing hot patches in high terrain between Winters Creek, Mt. Lowe and Mt. Wilson, Angeles National Forest authorities said.
That fire was 87% controlled as of Monday afternoon, Jan. 20, 6% higher than the previous evening.
Officials also somewhat decreased the destroyed acreage from the fire, which currently stands at 14,021, roughly 100 acres fewer than what had been reported for much of last week, owing to “better flights and sights” on the fire, officials said.
Near the coast, the Palisades fire was 59% controlled as of Monday afternoon, Jan. 20, up from 52% the evening before, as firefighters continue to make good progress, Cal Fire officials said.
“Stay alert as the danger has not yet passed,” Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley urged.
The Eaton fire has burned at least 9,416 buildings and damaged 1,064, according to Cal Fire. That total includes houses and commercial constructions.
The Palisades firestorm has damaged or destroyed at least 6,051 buildings, authorities announced Monday afternoon, Jan. 21, with 4,964 of them houses. More than 24,500 individuals remained evacuated.
While some people have been permitted to return home, others remained under evacuation orders as authorities worked to lessen the threats and seek for missing individuals.
At least 27 fatalities have been blamed for both incidents combined so far, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
The flames are projected to be the costliest natural catastrophe in U.S. history by the time all of the damage is evaluated.
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