In recent years the Santa Ana Winds have started to become a yearly occurrence, happening during the cooler months of the year when the environment is dry, allowing fires to start frequently and spread rapidly. Although fire season is not until later in the year, due to Calif’s drought, weather whiplash, and the high speed of the winds, many uncontrollable fires have spread rapidly throughout southern Calif.
The Palisades Fire was the first one to be reported, said to have begun at 10:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday west of Los Angeles. The fire has burned through 15,800 acres of land forcing 30,000 residents to evacuate.
Residents in the community of Pacific Palisades await news about their homes as the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has said the fire is yet to be under control.
The night of Tuesday, Jan. 7 above the hills above Altadena, a second fire was reported to break out. The Eaton Fire broke out north of Los Angeles County and is reported to have consumed 10,600 acres of land as of the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 8.
The fire claimed the lives of five residents as it is still hoped to be taken under control according to officials.
The Eaton Fire wasn’t the only one to break out that night. The Hurst Fire erupted later that night in the Altadena community, burning hundreds of acres of land and forcing residents to flee.
New fires continued to spark the morning of Jan. 8. The Woodley Fire, the Lidia Fire, and the Sunset Fire have all been reported and continue to spread due to the fierce winds. The Lidia Fire is currently 30 percent under control according to Cal Fire but the status of the other small outbreaks are yet to be determined.
Over the clouds of smoke we see a silver lining as the erratic Santa Ana winds are expected to calm going into the weekend. Stay up to date on fires in your area and make conscious decisions to stay safe by tracking new and current fires.
