Fire developments: Santa Ana winds increase the terror of Los Angeles residents

Strong winds expected to blow on Wednesday raise fears that they will fuel fires raging around Los Angeles, which have left at least 25 dead.

A week after the fire broke out and spread very quickly in the second largest American city, meteorologists warn of the intensification of the monsoon known as “Santa Anna,” which is particularly dangerous.

These winds are common in the fall and winter seasons in California, but this time they reached a strength not seen since 2011, reaching speeds of 160 kilometers per hour last week.

Wind speed 110 km

“Remain alert, be prepared to evacuate, and avoid anything that could spark a fire,” the National Weather Service said.
It warned of winds that could reach speeds of 110 kilometers per hour on Wednesday between 3:00 (11:00 GMT) and 15:00 (23:00 GMT).

Meteorologists, who placed much of Southern California at a red alert, noted that very low humidity and extremely dry vegetation after eight months without precipitation could lead to “ultra-rapid fire spread” in some locations.

Renewed danger

Several locations in the Los Angeles area and entire portions of the surrounding Ventura area are “in a particularly dangerous situation,” according to the weather service.

“The entire plant is dry and susceptible to flammability, so fires can break out quickly,” meteorologist Ryan Kittle told AFP.

The Palisades and Eaton fires, which are still active in some locations, may reignite, and the fires may expand rapidly.

The two largest fires spread over about 9,700 hectares in the upscale neighborhood of Pacific Palisades, and more than 5,700 in the city of Altadena, north of Los Angeles.

The authorities confirmed their readiness to confront new threats, while the fire hydrants ran dry in recent days.

“We checked the water system in the Eaton Fire District and it is in service, which means we have water and pressure,” Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said.

Toxic ash

Health services recommend that everyone wear masks to protect against toxic ash carried by the wind.

Anish Mahajan of the Los Angeles District Public Health Department stressed that “ash does not only carry soil, but is dangerous fine dust that may irritate or damage the respiratory system and other organs in the body.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom instructed crews tasked with removing the rubble to prepare for intervention, while the emergency service expects storms accompanied by rain that may cause mud flows.

Some Palisades residents decided not to wait and took over the removal of debris from the streets themselves.