Violent winds spread forest fires in California

Firefighters in Los Angeles County (LA) are battling life-threatening wildfires nearly 24 hours after the first blaze broke out in the Palisades area, according to reports from the Forest Service and California fire prevention. The fires burned high and spread rapidly due to a combination of unusually dry weather and hurricane-force winds reaching speeds of up to 160 km/h, according to Live Science.

Tens of thousands of residents had to evacuate their homes and four fires spread across 5,260 hectares as of the morning of January 8. The fire destroyed more than 1,000 structures and caused two deaths. As fires rage due to dry conditions, firefighters report some fire hydrants in Pacific Palisades are running low, possibly hindering efforts to put out the blaze. The fire is expected to last through January 9 according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Strong winds also forced firefighting aircraft to land at night, making it more difficult to control the fire.

The fire was fueled by a dangerous wind storm, which could threaten lives and cause property damage. This wind storm is fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds, warm, dry northeast winds that blow from southern California to the coast. Santa Ana winds are created when a large area of ​​high pressure forms over the Great Basin of the western United States, which includes most of Nevada along with parts of Oregon, Idaho and Utah.

These dry desert winds move southwest into California, where they cross the Sierra mountains and become drier. At passes and canyons, air moves faster, creating strong winds when it reaches the coast. The extremely low humidity of the Santa Ana winds causes trees to wither and catch fire easily, and even the smallest spark can flare up into a widespread fire. According to NWS, sustained winds could reach 65 km/h, with speeds of 160 km/h in low mountains and hills.

The four fires currently active are in the Pacific Palisades, Sylmar, Altadena/Pasadena and the Sepulveda basin. The Eaton Fire near Altadena Road and Midwick Road in Altadena and Pasadena burned 4,300 hectares of land, according to the local fire department. The Palisades fire also swept through more than 1,175 hectares of land. The fifth fire that broke out in Riverside on the morning of January 8 has been half extinguished. A sixth fire also broke out in Ventura. However, NWS speculates that Santa Ana winds will weaken significantly as ocean winds blow onshore.