
Dangerous winds returned to the region Tuesday as new wildfires broke out in San Diego and a pair of major Los Angeles-area blazes burned for a third week, while officials made preparations to protect scorched neighborhoods from toxic ash runoff ahead of potential rain this weekend.
Evacuations were ordered Tuesday when the Friars Fire broke out near Fashion Valley mall and flames ran up a hillside toward residences. That fire was quickly contained.
Meanwhile, evacuation orders were lifted for the Lilac Fire in the Bonsall area, which burned at least 85 acres of dry brush after threatening structures, the agency said. Nearby, crews fully contained the 17-acre Pala Fire.
Forecasters cautioned that gusts could peak at 70 mph along the coast and 100 mph in mountains and foothills during extreme fire weather thatās expected to last through Tuesday afternoon.
The National Weather Service warned of a ā particularly dangerous situation ā across San Diego, Los Angeles, and Ventura counties due to low humidity and powerful Santa Ana winds.
Gusts will ease later in the day, but windy conditions are expected into Thursday.
Fire engines and water-dropping aircraft positioned across the region allowed crews to swiftly douse several small blazes that popped up over the holiday weekend, said David Acuna, a spokesman with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.
āOur concern is the next fire, the next spark that causes the next wildfire,ā Acuna said Tuesday. He said another worry was that the two major blazes, the Palisades and Eaton fires near Los Angeles, could break their containment lines.
As a small number of residents were allowed to return to the devastated Pacific Palisades area, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order Tuesday to expedite cleanup efforts in burn areas and mitigate the environmental impacts of fire-related pollutants.
She ordered crews to remove vegetation, shore up hillsides, install barriers and reinforce roads ahead of possible rain this weekend that could create mud and debris flows.
āThis is to prevent additional damage to areas already ravaged by fire, and also to protect our watershed, beaches and ocean from toxic runoff,ā Bass said during a news conference.
Bass also warned that winds could disperse ash and urged Angelenos to visit lacity.gov to learn about ways to protect themselves from toxic air during the latest Santa Ana wind event.
Thereās a 60% to 80% chance of a small amount of rain for Southern California starting Saturday, with most areas likely getting not more than a third of an inch, said Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist for the weather serviceās LA office. However, up to an inch of rain could fall during localized thunderstorms, which would be a āworst-case scenarioā if itās enough to trigger debris flows on scorched hillsides, he said.
āBut even if the rain doesnāt materialize this time, it could be a good practice run for those communities because this will be a threat that theyāll have to deal with for months or years,ā Kittell said Tuesday.
Los Angeles firefighters on Monday quickly extinguished a small brush fire near the iconic Griffith Observatory in a sprawling park overlooking the city. A man suspected of starting the fire was taken into custody, LA police said.
Fire crews also quickly extinguished a small blaze near Tujunga and another one along Interstate 405 in the Granada Hills neighborhood that temporarily closed northbound lanes.
Southern California Edison said it had preemptively shut off power to more than 61,000 customers in five counties to prevent winds from toppling electrical equipment and sparking new fires. The utility said it was considering precautionary shutoffs for an additional 251,00 customers.
Authorities urged residents to review evacuation plans and prepare emergency kits, and be on the lookout for fires and report them quickly.
The low humidity, bone-dry vegetation and strong winds come as firefighters continue battling the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have killed at least 27 people and destroyed more than 14,000 structures since they broke out Jan. 7. The Palisades Fire was 61% contained and containment of the Eaton Fire reached 87%.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff flew to Los Angeles Monday after attending President Donald Trumpās inauguration and met with firefighters, volunteers and victims of the Eaton Fire in Altadena.
āWe just came out to thank (firefighters), to thank the community and just remind folks that weāre all in this together,ā Harris said. She said their home in Pacific Palisades was still standing.
Trump, who criticized the response to the wildfires during his inaugural address, has said he will travel to Los Angeles on Friday.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday said the devastation left by the fires underscores the need for partnership between the state and federal governments.
āI look forward to President Trumpās visit to Los Angeles and his mobilization of the full weight of the federal government to help our fellow Americans recover and rebuild,ā Newsom said in a statement.