Blazing flames driven by a powerful storm threatened homes in the mountains of Los Angeles on Tuesday, as Southern California braced for its strongest winds in more than a decade.
Gusts of up to 100 kilometers per hour are forecast for lunchtime on Wednesday, threatening to bring down trees, knock out power and spark wildfires across the wider region.
A fire in the Pacific Palisades area has grown to 20 acres by Tuesday morning, the Los Angeles Fire Department said. A plume of smoke engulfed the river west of downtown Los Angeles, and the fire forced the closure of part of the Pacific Coast Highway.
“We’ve already seen gusts between 50 and 70 mph in many areas,” said Rich Thompson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “It’s going to be tough all day.”
Southern California Edison, the state’s electricity provider, said it is preparing to cut power to about 419,000 customers in the southern part of the state as a way to avoid the outbreak of wildfires under strong wind conditions.
Forecasters are especially concerned about mountain communities in the San Fernando Valley, along highways 118 and 210, and some cities in the nearby San Gabriel Valley. Those areas are expected to receive strong winds and are often at risk of fire.
Last month, a wildfire in Malibu that threatened Pepperdine University and forced students to evacuate its campus was interrupted by similar Santa Ana winds. Officials are very concerned about this because the storm will affect a large, densely populated area.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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