Cal Fire moves resources to Southern California as agencies brace for extreme winds
An extreme and rare wind event is on the way to Southern California this week, with 80-100 mile per hour winds expected in some regions.
The National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard noted on Facebook that areas not typically impacted by wind will be affected during this weather event.
In preparation for what it is calling “critical fire weather,” Cal Fire is moving firefighting resources from Northern California to Southern California, deploying additional crews and engines to Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties, according to a news release from the agency.
Units in San Bernardino, San Diego and Riverside counties will increase their staffing during this time. The agency also plans to have more aerial firefighting resources in place as well as additional intelligence, dispatch and investigative resources.
Cal Fire Director and Chief Joe Taylor issued a reminder of the main cause of wildfires: Humans, who are responsible for 95% of wildfires.
“As we experienced in Ventura County in November with the Mountain Fire and again in December with the Franklin Fire in Malibu, wildfire is a year-round threat,” Tyler said the newsx release. “Please be vigilant and don’t be the cause of the next wildfire in your community.”
Out of an abundance of caution, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is relocating Topanga Elementary students to Woodland Hills Academy in the San Fernando Valley, according to a LAUSD spokesperson.
Topanga Canyon Boulevard will be closed between Mulholland Drive and Pacific Coast Highway from 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 10, according to Caltrans. The canyon will only be open to residents and local business traffic during this period.
The district has taken other precautions on their campuses, securing anything that could become airborne, keeping students and staff away from certain areas during high winds, reporting branches that fall or break immediately, stopping any dust creating construction and limiting outdoor activities at the schools impacted by the wind event, a district spokesperson said.
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) announced on X that it is putting engines, helicopters and additional firefighting resources into place ahead of the upcoming weather conditions, in order to ensure firefighters can respond fast.
“Falling trees can kill, and extreme winds bring risk of wildfires – even in January,” the agency said in a post. “Pay attention to local authorities and be prepared to evacuate if told to go.”
The public is encouraged by the OES to monitor weather.gov for updated information regarding the wind event and fire weather. Southern California Edison customers may experience Public Safety Power Shutoffs if necessary, a step taken so that power lines do not become ignited when there are dangerous weather conditions. Power for some customers in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties is under consideration for shutoff.
Information regarding shutoffs and potential shutoffs can be monitored on the SCE website.