Fires all across Southern California has been fanned by some of the strongest winds in years with two new fires breaking out in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. The National Weather Service issued an red flag warning that will be in effect across Southern California until 6 p.m. tonight thanks to the "extreme" fire weather conditions, that have been characterized by some of the strongest Santa Ana winds in recent memory.
“Strong Santa Ana winds gusting between 40 and 60 mph will continue to impact wind-prone areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties through Thursday morning, with isolated gusts to 70 mph in the Los Angeles county mountains, including the western portions of the Santa Monica mountains,” advised a National Weather Service statement. “Very dry air is associated with these Santa Ana winds with widespread single-digit humidities through Thursday, as low as 1 to 2% in some locations.”
“These prolonged dangerous fire weather conditions combined with the very dry fuels and presence of existing fires and associated flare-ups adds up to extreme red flag conditions for much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. As a result, there is high potential for very rapid fire growth and extreme fire behavior with new or existing fires.”
#Easy Fire
More than 700 firefighters are working on the Easy Fire that broke out Wednesday morning near the 118 Freeway and forced mandatory evacuations of more than 10,000 homes in the area as it encroached toward the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. At least 1,806 acres have burned with 60% percent containment. Southern California Edison said Wednesday evening that the Easy Fire started near one of its sub-transmission lines, which had not been de-energized at the time of ignition. The exact cause of the fire is still unknown.
Three firefighters have been injured in the fire, with at least two structures destroyed.
Mandatory Evacuations
- All mandatory evacuations have been lifted.
Evacuation Centers
- Thousand Oaks Community Center - 2525 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks, CA
- Rancho Santa Susana Community Center - 5005 E Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley, CA
Large Animal Evacuations
Ventura County Fairgrounds is accepting large animals in a limited capacity.
- 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura, CA
Large Animal Evacuations
Rancho Potrero Equestrian Center is FULL and not accepting any more large animals. - 4790 W. Lynn Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA
- Earl Warren Showgrounds - 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, CA
LA Pierce College is FULL and not accepting any more large animals.
Small Animal Evacuations
Camarillo Adoption Center - 600 Aviation Drive, Camarillo, CA 93010
Road Closures
- SB SR-23 open.
- NB SR 23 #1 lane open
- SB SR 23 from Tierra Rejada On-ramp closed.
- NB SR 23 to Tierra Rejada off-ramp closed.
- Tierra Rejada at SR 23 closed.
School Closures
- Briggs School District
- Conejo Valley Unified School District
- Fillmore Unified School District
- Hueneme Elementary School District
- Las Virgenes Unified School District
- Mesa Union School District
- Moorpark Unified School District
- Mupu School District
- Oak Park Unified School District
- Ocean View School District
- Oxnard School District (K-8)
- Oxnard Union High School District
- Pleasant Valley School District
- Rio School District
- Santa Clara Elementary School District
- Santa Paula Unified School District
- Simi Valley Unified School District
- Somis School District
Charter Schools
- ACE (Camarillo)
- Bridges (Thousand Oaks)
- CAPE (Camarillo)
- Ivy Tech (Moorpark)
- MATES (Thousand Oaks)
- University Preparation (Camarillo)
- Vista Real Charter High, Simi Center
#46Fire
One of the fires that broke out overnight started at Rancho Jurupa Park in Jurupa Valley at around 12:39 a.m. and burned at least 300 acres over the next several hours, forcing several mandatory evacuations for residents in the area. The fire is currently 50% contained. At least 6 homes there have been damaged or destroyed. Authorities confirmed Thursday morning that the fire was sparked following the end of a car chase.
One person was overcome with smoke and has been sent to the hospital.
Mandatory Evacuations
- All evacuations have been lifted
Evacuation Center
Patriot High School - 4355 Camino Real, Jurupa Valley.
School Closures
No School Closures announced
#HillFire
The Hillside fire was the second fire to spark up near Highway 18 at Lower Waterman Canyon, where it quickly spread into a nearby neighborhood, burning at least five homes there. The fire spread quickly, burning some 200 acres by 2:30 a.m. That prompted authorities to issue mandatory evacuations for around 490 homes in the area affecting some 1,300 residents early Thursday morning.
The fire has scorched 628 acres and is currently 90% contained. Structures are no longer threatened, firefighters said, but resources will remain on scene throughout the day to ensure hot spots don't spark back up.
Mandatory Evacuations
- north of 50th Street
- West of Highway 18
- East of Mayfield Street.
Evacuation Center
- Pacific High School - 1020 Pacific St., San Bernardino.
Small Animals:
- San Bernardino City Animal Shelter - 333 Chandler Place, San Bernardino
School Closures
No school closures have been announced
Getty Fire
The blaze that broke out Monday afternoon near the San Diego (405) Freeway near the Getty Museum has burned at least 745 acres and is currently 52% contained. Firefighters worked overnight to douse any hot spots within the fire perimeter. Because of the extreme fire weather conditions, officials have not lifted all of the mandatory evacuations that were issued earlier this week, however some residents were allowed to go home in a re-population effort as firefighters continued to gain the upper hand on the blaze over the week. More than 600 firefighters are on the scene battling the blaze. At least 12 homes have been destroyed with another 5 damaged.
You can find out if your home is still in the evacuation area by clicking here.
The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental, with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti calling it an 'act of God.' Investigators say based on burn patterns witness statements and even dashcam video, the Getty Fire started after a tree branch fell on some powerlines during high wind conditions, causing sparking and arcing of powerlines, that ignited a nearby brush.
Two firefighters have been injured while fighting the blaze.
Mandatory Evacuations
Effective October 31, 2019 at 10:00AM, All Mandatory Evacuation orders and Warnings are lifted with the exception of the following:
- Tigertail Rd at Deerbrook Ln to Chickory Ln
- Stonehill Ln
- Lindenwood Ln
- Sky Ln
- Canna Rd
- Chickory Ln
- Bluestone Tr to Bluegrass Wy
- Bluestone Tr
- Bluegrass Ln
- Bluegrass Wy
Road Closures:
- 405 Freeway is open in both directions.
- Sepulveda Boulevard northbound is open to all traffic.
- Sepulveda Boulevard southbound is open to all except from Skirball Center Drive to Sunset Boulevard, which is restricted to residents with I.D. only.
Evacuation Centers
- Palisades Recreation Center (851 Alma Real Drive) Open 24 Hours
- Westwood Recreation Center (1350 South Sepulveda Boulevard) Open 24 Hours
Animal Evacuation Centers
- West Valley Animal Shelter (20655 Plummer Street)
- West LA Animal Shelter (11361 West Pico Boulevard)
- Large Animals: Hansen Dam Recreation Area (11127 Orcas Ave)
School Closures
- Kenter Canyon Elementary
- Topanga Elementary Charter
All other schools previously closed due to the Getty Fire will be open and resume operations, officials said.
Photos: Getty Images