Fire officials are investigating the origins of several wildfires that have destroyed homes and forced thousands to evacuate across Southern California.
The Palisades Fire, which ignited around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, has burned nearly 3,000 acres between Santa Monica and Malibu.
Later that day, around 6:30 p.m., the Eaton Fire erupted in Altadena near Pasadena and grew to over 2,200 acres. By 10:30 p.m., the Hurst Fire broke out in Sylmar, in the San Fernando Valley, consuming approximately 500 acres.
Cal Fire is still investigating the causes of these fires but attributes their rapid spread to the powerful Santa Ana winds. “The combination of low humidity, dry vegetation, and shifting winds has significantly increased the likelihood of spot fires and rapid fire expansion,” Cal Fire said in an update.
Before the fires began, the National Weather Service issued its highest alert for extreme fire conditions across Los Angeles County. On Monday, the weather service warned that wind gusts could reach 100 mph in some areas, potentially leading to “extreme fire behavior” wherever fires started.
“This is a particularly dangerous situation − about as severe as fire weather gets,” the Los Angeles office cautioned. It urged residents in high-risk areas to stay vigilant and be prepared to evacuate.
The weather service issued a red flag alert Tuesday, marking the first such warning in January since 2021, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
California Governor Gavin Newsom emphasized the year-round threat of wildfires. “November, December, now January − there’s no fire season anymore; it’s fire year,” he said during a press conference.
