Governor Gavin Newsom issued a plea to Californians as winter-time wildfire threats loom, urging residents to heed local authorities and be prepared for potential evacuations if instructed. “We are no strangers to winter-time wildfire threats, so I ask all Californians to pay attention to local authorities and be prepared to evacuate if told to go,” Newsom stated.
A brush fire has ignited in the Hollywood Hills, prompting firefighters to mobilize to safeguard structures in the vicinity, as reported by NBC Los Angeles. The current fire conditions in the region are being described as potentially among the most severe in years, driven by a forecast of strong winds coupled with exceedingly dry weather conditions.
The National Weather Service office in Los Angeles issued a stark warning, cautioning of the imminent arrival of powerful winds. The situation was deemed “Particularly Dangerous” in terms of fire weather, signifying an extreme risk level. Residents were advised not only to remain indoors but also to steer clear of windows during the impending storm.
The city of Los Angeles has issued an alert to residents, describing an impending “destructive, widespread, and potentially life-threatening windstorm” that is expected to result in fallen trees and disrupted power lines. Areas prone to wildfires, such as the San Fernando Valley and the Hollywood Hills, were put on notice to be prepared for possible evacuations.
Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA, expressed concern about the unusual dryness following a particularly wet season, exacerbating the fire risk. “We really haven’t seen a season as dry as this one follow a season as wet as the previous one — all of that extra abundant growth of grass and vegetation followed immediately by a wind event of this magnitude while it’s still so incredibly dry,” Swain remarked during a livestream on Monday.
San Diego Gas & Energy stated its readiness to proactively shut off power for nearly 65,000 customers as a preventative measure. Meanwhile, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District announced the closure of all schools in Malibu on Tuesday due to escalating weather conditions and safety concerns. The Los Angeles Unified School District also disclosed plans to curtail outdoor activities for students at schools anticipated to be impacted by the high winds.
