Southern California Faces Windy Fire Danger Again

Southern California is gearing up for another round of extreme fire weather. The National Weather Service has issued a serious warning about winds reaching up to 100 mph. These winds, known as Santa Ana winds, are expected to arrive on Monday. They could cause existing wildfires to spread quickly and could even start new ones. Since January 7, over 14, 000 structures have been destroyed in the Palisades and Eaton fires. These fires are among the costliest in U. S. history. The Palisades Fire has burned nearly 24, 000 acres and is about 56% contained. The Eaton Fire has burned over 14, 000 acres and is about 81% contained. Meteorologists are worried that the returning winds could cause these fires to jump their containment lines. This would make them even harder to control. The winds are expected to peak on Monday evening and continue into Tuesday morning. The winds are coming from the northeast, which is typical for Santa Ana winds. They pose the greatest threat to the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys. Due to the strong winds and low humidity, new or existing fires could spread very quickly and behave extremely. Investigators are still looking into what caused these major fires. Since there was no lightning in the area, they think humans might be responsible. A congressional report shows that between 2018 and 2022, about 89% of wildfires in the U. S. were started by humans. Common causes include debris burns, utility equipment issues, and arson.