Southern California firefighters and emergency-preparedness officials were on heightened alert for wildfire danger Thursday as Santa Ana winds began whipping across the Southland amid low humidity.
The National Weather Service issued red-flag warnings in effect for a large portion of Los Angeles County through 8 p.m. Saturday. Low humidity and strong winds enable fire to spread rapidly and cause extreme fire behavior, according to forecasters. Gusts of 50-70 mph are forecast in mountain areas, with widespread gusty winds throughout valleys and coastal regions.
Officials urged residents to prepare for utility-initiated public safety power shutoffs and unplanned outages caused by wind damage. Outages can disrupt communications, traffic signals and electrically powered medical equipment, according to the county.
Hot weather will add to the risks, with a heat advisory in effect for parts of LA county through Saturday. Information on cooling centers and resources is available at ready.lacounty.gov/heat.
Los Angeles city and county fire departments are increasing staffing and pre-positioning additional ground and aerial resources, officials said.
Mayor Karen Bass urged residents to sign up for emergency alerts at notifyla.org and lafd.org/alerts.
Information about red-flag parking restrictions in areas deemed high-risk for fire is online at lafd.org/redflag.
The county’s Emergency Operations Center and Joint Information Center, meanwhile, were activated Thursday morning, bolstering coordination among county departments and other agencies and ensuring the distribution of timely information to the public, according to a county statement.
“Ahead of the high fire danger, the county of Los Angeles Fire Department has pre-positioned additional personnel along with ground and aerial resources across Los Angeles County,” County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone said. “With strong winds capable of driving rapid wildfire growth, we urge residents to prepare immediately. Review the Ready! Set! Go! program, identify your evacuation zone, and be prepared to evacuate without delay.”
Sheriff Robert Luna said, “As Los Angeles County prepares for the upcoming Red Flag Warning, the safety of our communities and our personnel remains our highest priority. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is taking proactive steps to ensure we are prepared to respond quickly and effectively to any emergencies that may arise. Through heightened monitoring, close coordination with our law enforcement partners throughout the region, and strategic staffing, we are ensuring our personnel and resources are prepared to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies. We urge residents to remain vigilant, stay informed, have an emergency plan and follow the guidance of public safety officials. Preparedness and collaboration are essential to keeping our communities safe.”
Kevin McGowan, director of the county Office of Emergency Management, added, “The January 2025 wildfires underscored the importance of early coordination, clear public information and planning for people who need additional assistance.
“We are activating the EOC and Joint Information Center ahead of the forecast’s peak winds to support those priorities,” McGowan said. “Our responsibility is to coordinate the county’s response and provide actionable information. Residents can help protect themselves and their neighbors by preparing now, staying informed and being ready to evacuate.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom also directed Cal Fire and the state Office of Emergency Services to deploy resources in Southern California ahead of the forecast high winds.
“By positioning firefighters, engines, aircraft and specialized equipment in areas facing the greatest risk, we are helping local fire departments respond quickly when every second counts,” Newsom said in a statement. “We will continue working with our partners statewide to ensure they have the personnel, equipment and resources necessary to keep Californians safe throughout this wind event.”
Fire danger prompted the closure of Topanga Canyon Boulevard to nonresidents at 6 a.m. Thursday through 10 p.m. Friday between Pacific Coast Highway and Mulholland Drive in Malibu. Old Topanga Canyon Road was closed between Mulholland Highway and Topanga Canyon. Only residents will be permitted on those routes during the closure.
Emergency preparedness information is available at ready.lacounty.gov.
