Parts of Southern California are under evacuation orders after Santa Ana winds ignited two fires in Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning Tuesday to extend through Friday across southwest California. An elevated “Particularly Dangerous Situation” categorization has been issued for the Santa Ana wind-prone Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The distinction has not been issued since 2020, making it the region’s most extreme wind event in years.
As of Wednesday morning, the Mountain Fire in Ventura County had grown to 1,000 acres, closing highways and triggering evacuations. The Broad Fire in Los Angeles County has burned 50 acres, shutting down part of the Pacific Coast Highway and damaging at least two structures. The Associated Press reported Wednesday that the Broad Fire was 15 percent contained.
The NWS says conditions near the Mountain Fire are particularly dangerous, with wind gusts over 50 mph and low humidity that will continue to lower throughout the day. Similar conditions exist near the Malibu fire.
