A red flag alert is in effect today in much of southern California because of strong Santa Ana winds, moderately low humidity and very dry plants and grasses.
The wind brought down a large platform on Freeway 210, dropped a billboard in Santa Clarita, kicked a tree over residences in Santa Paula, and threatened to aggravate forest fires that broke out across the region.
One such fire, the Towsley Fire, broke out in Santa Clarita and has so far burned up to 50 acres, although no structure has been threatened, according to a LA County Fire tweet.
Cal Fire and the LA County Fire Department are deploying additional resources to respond to any new fires.
LA County Fire has placed three additional attack teams across the county – one in the Malibu and Agoura area, one in eastern LA and one in the Santa Clarita area, spokesman Henry Narvaez said.
“And they are strategically placed there so that they can jump at any time in an initial attack, if something happens,” he said.
Each attack team includes five fire engines and 20 firefighters.
People should be extremely cautious and think beyond things like cigarettes and campfires that can start a forest fire, said National Weather Service analyst Ryan Kittell:
“Less obvious things like dragging tow hitch chains, even brush cutters or weed destroyers that can hit rocks and start sparks in a dry place, all these things have started firing before.”
Meanwhile, Southern California Edison shut down the power of about 55,000 customers due to the high risk of fire, mainly in Los Angeles, Riverside and Ventura counties.
Another 255,000 customers have been warned that they may lose energy; almost half of them are in Ventura County.
Some of the strongest bursts recorded today in the Santa Clarita Valley were:
- Saugus: 71 MPH (09:57)
- Lake Castaic: 69 MPH (8:50 AM)
- Magic Mountain: 62 MPH (10:10)
- Browns Canyon: 74 MPH (8:30 am)
- Warm Springs RAWS: 87 MPH (8:53 AM)
- Magic Mountain Truck Trail: 86 MPH (9h50)
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