More extreme fire weather conditions are about to roll into Southern California.
According to the National Weather Service, a “particularly dangerous situation warning” was issued in parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties from 12 PM Monday through 10 AM Tuesday.
Forecasters added that coasts and valleys could see wind gusts between 50 to 70 mph while mountains and foothills could see gusts between 60 to 100 mph.
Andrew Rourke, with the National Weather Service, spoke with KNX News’ Jon Baird about which areas will feel the winds most.
“This will be the typical Santa Ana area which starts northeast of the Santa Clarita Valley, goes through the Santa Clarita Valley, then affects the western edges of the San Fernando Valley, the western portion of the Santa Monica Mountains, and the western portion of the Malibu Beach area, as well as the eastern portions of the Ventura County Valleys and the southeastern portion of the Ventura County coast,” he said.
He added that PDS warnings “aren’t forecasting a fire.”
“We're just saying if a fire starts its spread will be extremely, extremely fast and extremely dangerous,” he said.
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L.A. Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said there was enormous concern that the windstorm could reignite the Palisades Fire or drive a new fire.
"Local gusts in the mountains may reach up to 100 MPH at the peak of this wind event," she said. "The vegetation is critically dry. This means that if it is ignited, extreme fire weather and behavior is probable"
She said the LAFD had deployed "all available resources" to prepare for the winds. Additional resources were deployed to the Palisades Fire area, including engines from regional and state partners and additional Super Scooper planes.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Sunday that more than 130 fire engines, water tenders, and aircraft will be deployed to Southern California ahead of the of the extreme fire weather.
“The recent firestorms in Los Angeles have illustrated the importance of being in the right place at the right time,” he said in a statement. “By strategically placing specialized personnel and equipment in areas prone to wildfires, crews are able to respond faster and more aggressively. These conditions are dangerous, so it’s incumbent upon all families to stay vigilant.”
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