Powerful winds and low humidity raise wildfire risk across California as blaze erupts near Malibu

By The Associated Press

Los Angeles city workers remove the remains of a fallen tree blown over by intense winds that crushed a fence in a city park on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Richard Vogel]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California was lashed by powerful winds Wednesday that caused humidity levels to drop and prompted forecasters to warn of the potential for “extreme and life-threatening” wildfires.

Los Angeles County Fire Department crews scrambled to contain a small blaze fed by erratic gusts that pushed flames through dry brush at a park along Pacific Coast Highway near Pepperdine University in Malibu.

The National Weather Service office for Los Angeles amended its red flag warning for increased fire danger with a rare “particularly dangerous situation” label.

With predicted gusts between 50 miles (80.5 kph) and 100 mph (161 mph) and humidity levels as low as 8%, parts of Southern California could experience conditions ripe for “extreme and life-threatening” fire behavior into Thursday, the weather service said.

Officials in several counties urged residents to be on watch for fast-spreading blazes, power outages and downed trees amid the latest round of notorious Santa Ana winds.

“Those in canyon, mountain, and foothill communities should be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice,” the LA County Office of Emergency Management said on X. Some canyon roads were closed as a precaution and fire departments positioned resources in areas prone to fires.

Forecasters also issued red flag warnings until Thursday from California’s central coast through the San Francisco Bay Area and into counties to the north.

Sustained winds of 30 mph (48 kph) are expected in many areas, with possible gusts topping 55 mph (88.5 kph) along mountaintops, according to the weather service office in San Francisco.

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. said it preemptively turned off power to a small number of customers late Tuesday in areas where strong gusts could damage electrical equipment and spark blazes. Southern California Edison preemptively shut off power for more than 41,000 customers Wednesday, including more than 12,000 in Los Angeles County.