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A new blaze, named the Auto Fire, broke out late Monday in Ventura County, California, and has already scorched about 56 acres, prompting a swift response from fire crews.
While it remains at 0 percent containment, it has been successfully halted to the river bottom area of Oxnard with no buildings in jeopardy, officials said.
Firefighters are bracing for the return of ferocious Santa Ana winds that are expected to fan the flames of massive wildfires raging across Southern California, as the death toll climbs to at least 25 people.
The combined area burnt by the fires around Los Angeles is more than 60 square miles.
The National Weather Service has warned of a “particularly dangerous situation” in the days ahead, and gusts between 60 and 70mph were already recorded early Tuesday morning.
Peak winds are expected to be milder than last week, the agency said Monday, though relatively low humidity and 20 to 40 mph offshore winds will “support rapid fire growth and potential for extreme fire behavior.”
“Life-threatening and destructive and widespread winds are already here,” Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley warned residents.
She said that the Los Angeles Fire Department had staffed all available resources, strategically placing fire patrols and engines in unimpacted high fire risk areas in the city.
LA mayor says unprecedented natural disaster warrants unprecedented response
“This unprecedented natural disaster warrants an unprecedented response that will expedite the rebuilding of homes, businesses and communities,” Mayor Karen Bass wrote on social media.
Bass issued an executive order to help fire victims and to expedite the rebuilding process.
“This order is the first step in clearing away red tape and bureaucracy to organize around urgency, common sense and compassion. We will do everything we can to get Angelenos back home,” she said.
Julia Musto14 January 2025 18:45
Incorrect emergency alerts reportedly continued on Monday
“We have received reports that some individuals are still receiving alerts,” the county’s Office of Emergency Management said in a statement late Monday, according to The Los Angeles Times. “We believe these to be ‘echo alerts.’ Echo alerts were found to be the result of messages being relayed through cell phone towers that were shut down during fire conditions and power outages and are now coming back online.”
Julia Musto14 January 2025 18:30
Red Flag parking restrictions remain in effect
“It is important that fire apparatus have room to respond quickly to a fast-moving brush fire while simultaneously allowing residents to evacuate, if necessary,” the department said.
It warned that vehicles illegally parked in posted locations within the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones will be towed.
Julia Musto14 January 2025 18:26
Superman star calls for California governor to be fired over wildfire response
Julia Musto14 January 2025 18:18
Meteorologists warn about continued fire risk through Wednesday
“Any fire that breaks out could be extremely fast-moving,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski warned. “Fires still burning from last week’s event could jump containment lines, and burning embers could be carried long distances and spark new spot fires.”
The media forecasting company is projecting 60 to 80mph gusts in Santa Ana wind-prone areas through Wednesday morning, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 100 mph.
Julia Musto14 January 2025 18:17
Power outages jump to more than 92,000
More than 92,000 California customers were left without power on Tuesday, as winds continued to whip across Southern California.
Tracker PowerOutage.us showed that more than 43,000 were in wildfire-ravaged Los Angeles County.
Julia Musto14 January 2025 18:10
Altadena couple is ‘heartbroken’ after Eaton Fire destroys their home on their 62nd wedding anniversary
An Altadena couple, Herman and Juanita Landry, lost their home to the Eaton Fire on their 62nd wedding anniversary.
“I’m heartbroken, it’s heartbreaking,” Juanita told KTLA on Tuesday.
“It was like being in a war zone,” Herman added. “Nothing but ashes…it seemed like some of the trees did not burn, but all of the home was flat. The things that you see in the movies, that’s what it was like.”
Julia Musto14 January 2025 18:02
People need to wear proper respiratory masks to protect against negative health impacts from fires, official warns
People in areas affected by the Los Angeles County wildfires should put on proper respiratory masks to protect against negative health impacts, Dr. Anish Mahajan, chief deputy director for Los Angeles County’s public health department, cautioned Tuesday.
Specifically, residents should don N95 or P100 masks.
Wildfire smoke is about 10 times as toxic as the regular air pollution from the burning of fossil fuels, and there’s no safe level of exposure, according to experts at Stanford University.
“These masks are specifically designed to reduce the exposure to harmful fine particles found in the ash and smoke, which can penetrate deep into your lungs and cause serious health problems,” Mahajan said.
Julia Musto14 January 2025 17:57
