Large stretch of Southern California under Red Flag Warning as Santa Ana winds bring elevated fire risk
Santa Ana winds are leaving much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties with elevated wildfire risk on Thursday and Friday, leading to a National Weather Service warning that any blazes could spread quickly.
"If fire ignition occurs, conditions are favorable for extreme fire behavior which would threaten life and property," a NWS Red Flag Warning says. "A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. Use extreme caution with anything that can spark a wildfire."
As a result of the Santa Ana wind event, which could bring fire danger in combination with low humidity, CBS LA has issued a Next Weather Alert for Thursday and Friday. The alert spans the Ventura County mountains and valleys, Malibu, the Santa Monica Mountains, San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains, the Inland Empire and Orange County.
"If a fire were to start, it could spread rapidly because of the weather conditions," said CBS LA Chief Meteorologist Paul Deanno.
The NWS says those winds will "dry out any helpful effects of the recent rains" Southern California received.
"The winds are coming in from the desert, pushing through into the mountains, through the canyons and the passes. Finally, when it trickles down into our wind-prone areas, that's what helps dries us out," said CBS LA Meteorologist Amber Lee.
Forecasters indicate that wind gusts Thursday and Friday can reach upwards of 70 miles per hour in mountain areas. Inland, they're expected to come from the northeast between 20 and 40 mph.
Santa Ana winds are likely to peak on Friday, according to the NWS.
Southern California prepares emergency measures
Southern California Edison is considering public safety power shutoffs for roughly 224,500 customers in Los Angeles and Ventura counties amid the heightened fire risks.
Residents can view their outage status here.
The LA County Sheriff's Department issued an advisory that potential outages could "disrupt communications, traffic signals and electrically powered medical equipment" and urged residents to prepare.
"We urge residents to remain vigilant, stay informed, have an emergency plan, and follow the guidance of public safety officials," LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said. "Preparedness and collaboration are essential to keeping our communities safe."
The LA County Fire Department also stated that they are prepositioning personnel and aerial resources ahead of the Santa Ana winds.
"With strong winds capable of driving rapid wildfire growth, we urge residents to prepare immediately," LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said. "Review the Ready! Set! Go! program, identify your evacuation zone, and be prepared to evacuate without delay."
Drawing on the lessons from the January 2025 wildfires, LA County's emergency management team said they are already coordinating with different departments ahead of the wind event.
"The January 2025 wildfires underscored the importance of early coordination, clear public information and planning for people who need additional assistance," said Kevin McGowan, director of the emergency management office. "Our responsibility is to coordinate the County's response and provide actionable information.
To prepare for a potential emergency, residents can visit protect.genasys.com to find their evacuation zone. LA County officials urged residents to find more than one route out of their neighborhood, learn how to open garage doors during a potential power outage, and pack supplies, including medication, in case they need to evacuate at a moment's notice.
"Residents can help protect themselves and their neighbors by preparing now, staying informed, and being ready to evacuate," McGowan said.
LA County officials urged residents to avoid parking on narrow roads, sharp curves and any areas that can block roadways for first responders and trap other residents during an evacuation.
Ready SoCal
CBS LA has prepared guides for emergency preparedness during wind events and wildfires.
Here are some checklists and guides to keep in mind:
- Evacuation orders can happen at a moment's notice; here are things to remember to grab
- Steps to lower your risk and increase chances of insurance coverage for wind damage
- A car might be your only lifeline during a wildfire; here's how to drive safe
- Family remembers loved one lost in Eaton Fire and warns of the need to prepare
- What you should have at home to stay safe during dangerous winds
- Wildfire checklists: what you need to know to stay safe
- Strong winds checklist: steps to protect your home
