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Wind siege ends for LA fire areas, cooler temperatures ahead
The National Weather Service on Thursday said in relief to the fire-ravaged Los Angeles area that “the nine-day wind siege has finally ended.” It comes after a “particularly dangerous situation” red flag warning expired on Wednesday evening.
The region will now see a “significant cooling trend through the weekend,” according to the weather service. Humidity levels will increase, reducing the dry conditions that helped spread wildfires last week.
“By Thursday afternoon, a solid onshore flow will move along the coast and work its way inland through the rest of the day, ultimately ending this long offshore extension.”
Much cooler temperatures are expected Friday and into the weekend.
Map shows fires today
A map from Cal Fire shows the wildfires burning in Southern California as of the department’s latest update.
The map shows the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, Auto and Little Mountain fires.
Cal Fire
Fire containment – latest numbers
Crews are steadily working to contain three wildfires in Los Angeles County and one in Ventura on Thursday. Another blaze, the Little Mountain Fire, broke out Wednesday in San Bernardino and spread over 34 acres. Cal Fire said the Little Mountain Fire stopped growing hours after it started, but none of it is contained as of Thursday morning.
The Palisades Fire in western L.A. has burned 23,714 acres, and 21% is contained, according to Cal Fire. On the other side of the county, the Eaton Fire covers 14,117 acres and almost half is under control. Firefighters have also contained 98% of the Hurst Fire, at 799 acres. Those blazes haven’t expanded in several days.
In Ventura County, firefighters have contained 85% of the Auto Fire, which broke out Monday and covers 61 acres, Cal Fire said.
L.A. Clippers owner donates $15 million for wildfire recovery
Steve Ballmer, the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team, donated $15 million to wildfire recovery efforts and organizations currently supporting the communities impacted. The funds are particularly focused on providing assistance in Altadena, where the deadly Eaton Fire originated and caused significant damage.
“We love L.A. and are committed to supporting the communities affected by the devastating wildfires,” Steve and Connie Ballmer said in a statement released Wednesday through the Ballmer Group, a philanthropic organization. “In coordination with our local partners, Ballmer Group will contribute to addressing immediate food and shelter needs in the community and supporting our first responders.”
Ballmer Group shared a list of organizations and relief initiatives that will receive portions of the donation.
Some red flag warnings still in effect until 3 p.m.
While most red flag warnings that were issued for parts of Southern California have expired, red flag warnings for the Santa Susana Mountains, western San Gabriel Mountains and the I-5 Corridor remain in effect until 3 p.m. local time Thursday.
“Offshore Santa Ana winds will continue to diminish for the majority of the area, however winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 40 mph will continue into Thursday afternoon for the Western San Gabriel Mountains, Santa Susana Mountains, and I-5 Corridor,” the National Weather Service said.
The weather service says “things are starting to look better in terms of the forecast across California and the areas that have been devastated by the ongoing wildfires.”
“Even though no rain is in the forecast, the winds are expected to switch to a more onshore flow late Thursday and into Friday, bringing higher relative humidities and less chaotic wind flow, thus helping to mitigate the wildfire threat compared to recent days,” it says.
Safety concerns linger as some evacuees begin returning home
As some evacuees from the Eaton and Palisades fires began returning home this week after their neighborhoods were decimated by wildfires, health officials warned there was still plenty cause for concern.
Air quality and safety are top-of-mind for returnees.
“Our house is standing,” said Zoe Kahn, who had to flee from her Pasadena home. But, there’s significant smoke damage.”
“We are having our house professionally cleaned, and then hiring an industrial hygienist to assess any toxins that are in the home still so that we can make sure it’s safe for us to move back in,” she said.
The Kahns are among many families concerned about what they can’t see and dangerous chemicals that may remain.
“We do not emphasize enough that you are breathing in particles that you cannot see,” said Jane Williams, the Executive Director of the California Communities Against Toxics during a webinar with air quality and public health experts on Wednesday. “The air quality index does not tell you they’re there. But when you breathe them in, even for relatively short periods of time, they get lodged inside your lungs and have enormous public health impacts.”