Los Angeles Firefighters Dig In for Critical Battle as 70 MPH Winds Set to Kick Up Anew
"The worst winds are predicted today for late afternoon and into Wednesday," LAFD chief Anthony Marrone says The post Los Angeles Firefighters Dig In for Critical Battle as 70 MPH Winds Set to Kick Up Anew appeared first on TheWrap.
Another pitched battle between a fully mobilized, multi-agency firefighting force and the historic blazes that have devastated Los Angeles was on the brink of crescendo late Tuesday morning, as fierce winds were poised to thrash the area anew with gusts up to 70 mph following a period of relative calm.
The Santa Ana winds that sparked the monstrous fires one week ago had relented over the past few days, giving crews a chance to gain a foothold on containment that eluded them during the historic bluster. That tranquil state continued into Tuesday morning, with nothing more than single-digit mph breezes flowing over Southern California. But things were about to shift dramatically.
“The worst winds are predicted today for late afternoon and into Wednesday,” LAFD chief Anthony Marrone said in a Tuesday morning press conference. “The Los Angeles area is prepared. The continued winds with low humidity … will keep the area critical.”
The National Weather Service issued a “particularly dangerous situation” warning for Los Angeles and Ventura Counties for Tuesday and Wednesday. That designation is held for only the most extreme conditions; destructive fires erupted during each of the previous three such warnings this season, including the Mountain (Ventura County) and Franklin (Malibu) fires, as well as the Palisades and Eaton fires.
As of Tuesday morning, the Palisades Fire was 17% contained, up from 14% on Monday. It had burned 23,713 acres and 5,300 homes, businesses and landmarks. The Eaton Fire was 35% contained, up from 33%. Officials estimate more than 7,000 structures have been destroyed.
A smaller brush fire came up overnight Monday in Ventura County, where firefighters battled the 56-acre Auto fire. Firefighters said they were making progress but still reported 0% containment.
Officials say 24 people are confirmed dead, with another 34 reported missing.
More to come …
The post Los Angeles Firefighters Dig In for Critical Battle as 70 MPH Winds Set to Kick Up Anew appeared first on TheWrap.
