Destructive and life-threatening storms continued to batter Southern California on Tuesday, with fire officials warning that maximum winds were expected and danger would continue overnight.
The risk of high winds will begin at 10pm Tuesday night and continue until 5am Wednesday morning.
A massive wildfire broke out in the Pacific Palisades region early Tuesday morning, with more than 30,000 residents under evacuation orders. By the afternoon, the fire had grown to more than 2,900 acres and was expected to grow further due to strong Santa Ana winds.
Fire officials urged the public to heed evacuation warnings at a press conference Tuesday night as firefighters continue to battle the rapidly expanding blaze.
“It’s hard to imagine, but we’re out of the woods,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said. “We’ll have the best winds from 10pm tonight until 5am tomorrow.”
The city of Los Angeles declared a state of emergency after the Palisades fire destroyed homes and structures.
An extended red flag warning will be in effect for Los Angeles and Ventura counties starting Wednesday at 4 p.m., the National Weather Service said. Damaging wind gusts of 50 to 80 mph are expected.
The NWS said areas under red flag warnings have “an increased risk of large fires with very rapid fire spread, extreme fire behavior, and long-range detection.” This extreme wind phenomenon, which is considered “particularly dangerous,” will continue to be most active in the following regions:
San Fernando Valley San Gabriel Mountains Beverly Hills Hollywood Hills Malibu East Ventura Valley (near Simi Valley/Moorpark) Coastal areas adjacent to Sepulveda Pass Santa Monica and Santa Susana Mountains
“This is likely to be the most destructive wind storm since the 2011 storm that caused extensive damage in Pasadena and the nearby foothills of the San Gabriel Valley,” the NWS said. “Area along Highways 118 and 210 are most at risk for similar wind damage.”
Wind gusts of 80 to 160 mph are possible in the San Gabriel and Santa Susana Mountains and the foothills of the San Gabriel/San Fernando Valley, the NWS warned.
A helicopter sprays water on the ongoing Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent) Firefighters battle the ongoing Palisades Fire, burning structures in Pacific Palisades. Tuesday, January 7, 2025, near Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent) Residents and firefighters look on at the Palisades fire Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, as a fire breaks out in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent) The Palisades Fire destroyed a home in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo) /Etienne Laurent) Firefighters battle the Palisades Fire, which causes a house to go up in flames, on Tuesday, January 7, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Garcia) LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 7: The Palisades Fire burns during powerful rainstorms along Sunset Boulevard on January 7, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. People evacuating. Fast-moving wildfires are threatening coastal homes in Southern California’s harsh Santa Ana winds and dry weather. (Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 7: Sunset as the Palisades Fire burns amid powerful storms in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California on January 7, 2025. A car bursts into flames on the main street. Fast-moving wildfires are threatening coastal homes in Southern California’s harsh Santa Ana winds and dry weather. (Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images) People flee the advancing Palisades Fire by car and on foot in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent) Firefighters battle the blaze as the Palisades Fire progresses in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent) Flames rise and progress on the Palisades Fire at a home in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Firefighters use hoses to extinguish flames from the Palisades Fire in front of a home in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. Los Angeles, Tuesday, January 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Gov. Gobin Newsom is assessing the damage as the damage continues to grow. January 7, 2025: Palisades Fire prompts widespread evacuations. (KTLA) On January 7, 2025, a brush fire blazes and smoke billows out in Pacific Palisades, California. (Getty Images) Palisades Fire, Fire, January 7, 2025 (KTLA) Wildfires can be seen burning in the Pacific Palisades as seen from Santa Monica. January 7, 2025, California. (Getty Images)A helicopter drops water on the ongoing Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Palisades Fire Burns Near Homes Hit by Powerful Storms January 7, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Getty Images) Will Adams watches as flames from the Palisades Fire approach his property in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Flames and smoke from the Pacific Palisades fire can be seen on the hill behind a home in Santa Monica, Calif., Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty) Image) On January 7, 2025, the Palisades Fire starts burning. (KTLA) A helicopter sprays water on the ongoing Palisades Fire in Los Angeles’ Pacific Palisades neighborhood on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent) Smoke is seen rising as a wildfire rages in Pacific Paris Safe, California, on January 7, 2025. Fast-moving wildfires in Los Angeles caused buildings to be set on fire and people to be evacuated as “life-threatening” winds battered the region in the suburbs on Tuesday. More than 200 acres (80 hectares) of fire burned, cutting off major highways and sending thick smoke blanketing the area in Pacific Palisades, an upscale area of multimillion-dollar homes in the Santa Monica Mountains. (Photo by David Swanson/AFP) (Photo by David Swanson/AFP via Getty Images)
“It’s important that the public understand how dynamic these winds are and how quickly small changes can change,” said Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley. “You might think, ‘Okay, I’m safe,’ but the important thing is to listen to the evacuation orders and be very diligent about what happens. We want people to be aware of that. , we want to make sure we make the right decisions and understand real-time information. It’s going to get worse tonight.”
Significant fire weather is at risk for much of Los Angeles and eastern Ventura County into Wednesday afternoon, and a fire weather watch will be in effect Thursday night through Friday.
Humidity levels are also expected to drop to between 10 and 20 percent in many areas by Tuesday night. By Wednesday, low humidity levels could drop into the single digits in some areas, and dangerous fire conditions could persist.
Air quality remains poor in many Southern California communities due to wildfires and strong winds.
The warning from the National Weather Service for a destructive storm is expected to arrive late Tuesday night, January 7, 2025, into Wednesday morning.
South Coast AQMD health officials offer the following tips to protect yourself and your loved ones from poor air quality that can be harmful to your health.
Stay indoors with windows and doors closed or seek alternative shelter. Avoid strenuous physical activity. Respirators: Keep a few disposable respirators (such as N-95 or P-100 masks) on hand in case you need to be outdoors in a smoky environment. If you smell smoke, run your air conditioner if you have one and make sure the filters are clean. If your air conditioner has the option, close the outside air intake to recirculate indoor air and prevent smoke from entering the room further. A highly efficient filter (i.e., a high MERV rating) will remove more smoke particles than a less efficient filter. Medical Plan: If you or someone in your family has heart or lung disease (such as asthma), talk to your doctor and make a plan in case your condition worsens due to smoking. Make sure you have enough medicine on hand (for at least 5 days). Generator Safety: If you plan to use your generator during a public safety power outage, never use it inside your home. Generators produce toxic carbon monoxide gas, which can be deadly. Only use your generator outdoors and at least 20 feet from your home. Make sure there are working carbon monoxide detectors near all sleeping areas in your home. Create a filtered air space in your home by keeping your doors and windows closed and using a portable high-efficiency air purifier or HEPA air purifier. It can be a room where you spend a lot of time, such as your bedroom. Click here to learn more about air filters and air cleaners. Avoid using indoor or outdoor wood-burning appliances, including fireplaces. Avoid placing combustion sources in your home, such as candles and incense, which can further worsen indoor air quality. If you must be outdoors in smoky conditions, keep it short and use a disposable mask (N-95 or P-100). These masks can provide some protection from smoke particles if worn properly and with a secure fit. Do not rely on surgical or cloth masks for protection. Information about using respirators to protect yourself from wildfire smoke and ash can be found here.
“We’re not out of the woods,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said. “The most significant wind events are expected to occur overnight, so it is mandatory for everyone living in bush-covered areas to have a bushfire preparedness plan in place for their home.”
The Pacific Palisades is about 10 miles from Malibu, where the Franklin Fire broke out under similar windy conditions in December, burning more than 4,000 acres and destroying several homes.
Click here for more information, including the current evacuation situation and fire information.
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