Southland fire agencies and emergency-preparedness officials were on heightened alert Thursday as Santa Ana winds began whipping across the Southland, combining with low humidity to create critical wildfire danger
Red flag warnings issued by the National Weather Service will be in effect for a significant portion of Los Angeles County through 8 p.m. Saturday. Low humidity and strong winds will create conditions capable of producing rapid fire spread and extreme fire behavior, forecasters said. Gusts of 50 to 70 mph are forecast in mountain areas, with widespread gusty winds across many valleys and coastal communities.
Residents were urged to prepare for utility-initiated public safety power shutoffs and unplanned outages caused by wind damage. County officials noted that outages can disrupt communications, traffic signals and electrically powered medical equipment.
Hot weather will add to the risks,
Hot weather will add to the risks, with a heat advisory in effect for portions of the county through Saturday. Information on cooling centers and re
Los Angeles city and county fire departments are increasing staffing and pre-positioning additional ground and aerial re
Mayor Karen Bass urged residents to sign up for emergency alerts at notifyla.org and lafd.org/alerts.
Due to the fire danger, the Los Angeles
Due to the fire danger, the Los Angeles Fire Department has imposed red flag parking restrictions that will be in place through at least 6 a.m. Saturday. The declaration imposes street-parking restrictions in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones to ensure emergency vehicles can navigate streets to battle wildfires and residents can quickly evacuate if a fire erupts.
More information about the restrictions and affected areas is available at www.lafd.org/redflag.
The county’s Emergency Operations Center and Joint Information Center, meanwhile, were activated Thursday morning, bolstering coordination among county departments and other agencies and ensuring the distribution of timely information to the public, officials said.
Ahead of the high fire danger, the county
“Ahead of the high fire danger, the county of Los Angeles Fire Department has pre-positioned additional personnel along with ground and aerial rearrone said. “With strong winds capable of driving rapid wildfire growth, we urge residents to prepare immediately. Review the Ready! Set! Go! program, identify your evacuation zone, and be prepared to evacuate without delay.”
Sheriff Robert Luna added, “As Los Angeles County prepares for the upcoming Red Flag Warning, the safety of our communities and our personnel remains our highest priority. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is taking proactive steps to ensure we are prepared to respond quickly and effectively to any emergencies that may arise. Through heightened monitoring, close coordination with our law enforcement partners throughout the region, and strategic staffing, we are ensuring our personnel and resources are prepared to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies. We urge residents to remain vigilant, stay informed, have an emergency plan and follow the guidance of public safety officials. Preparedness and collaboration are essential to keeping our communities safe.”
Kevin McGowan, director of the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management, noted, “The January 2025 wildfires underscored the importance of early coordination, clear public information and planning for people who need additional assistance.
We are activating the EOC and Joint Information
“We are activating the EOC and Joint Information Center ahead of the forecast’s peak winds to support those priorities,” he said. “Our responsibility is to coordinate the county’s response and provide actionable information. Residents can help protect themselves and their neighbors by preparing now, staying informed and being ready to evacuate.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom also directed Cal Fire and the state Office of Emergency Services to pre-position re
“By positioning firefighters, engines, aircraft and specialized equipment in areas facing the greatest risk, we are helping local fire departments respond quickly when every second counts,” Newsom said in a statement. “We will continue working with our partners statewide to ensure they have the personnel, equipment and revent.”
Due to the fire danger, Topanga Canyon Boulevard was closed to non- residents at 6 a.m. Thursday through 10 p.m. Friday between Pacific Coast Highway and Mulholland Drive in Malibu. Old Topanga Canyon Road was closed between Mulholland Highway and Topanga Canyon. Only residents will be permitted on those routes during the closure.
