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Wildfire Season

Latest Updates on Fires Burning in Southern California

Alexis Thornton

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A helicopter drops water on the Friars Fire in San Diego, CA, on January 21, 2025 | (Photo By Lily Ride/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images)

Another round of Santa Ana winds is impacting Southern California on Tuesday, igniting new wildfires in the region. Here is the latest on this potentially dangerous situation.

Update on California Wildfires

It was a calm weekend in Southern California with little to no winds, cooler temperatures, and slightly higher humidity levels. The improvement in the weather helped firefighters make progress in containing the fires burning in the southern part of the Golden State.

As of the last Cal Fire update, the Palisades Fire has burned over 23,700 acres and is 63% contained. The Eaton Fire has scorched over 14,000 acres and is 89% contained. These fires that started two weeks ago are responsible for at least 27 fatalities.

People watch the Friars Fire as it burns from Fashion Valley Mall in San Diego, CA, on January 21, 2025. | (Photo By Lily Ride/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images)


Two new fires broke out recently in San Diego County as the winds flared up again. The Pala Fire has burned 17 acres and is 0% contained. However, evacuation orders were lifted by Tuesday as crews felt confident in their abilities to keep this fire in check.

Also in San Diego County, the Lilac Fire is 10% contained after burning 80 acres. Another fire ignited near the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles on Monday. However, crews were able to extinguish this fire quickly, putting an end to the threat in this part of the metro area.

WFN

The winds began to pick up on Monday, whipping around at the highest speeds across the mountains and valleys of Southern California. A top gust of 102 mph was reported on Sill Hill in the San Diego County Mountains. Moving to the north, a gust of 88 mph was clocked at Magic Mountain in the Angeles National Forest.

Forecasters believe that the worst of the winds are over for this event but gusts could still linger through Tuesday. The dry conditions will pair with the gusts to amplify the threat of wildfires. As such, red flag warnings are still in effect through much of Tuesday afternoon.

Crews have been much quicker to respond to new fires with this latest threat. Additional firefighters were put in place in anticipation of the high winds. The Los Angeles Fire Department continues to reassure residents that they have deployed all resources while positioning crews and fire engines throughout the areas that are at the highest risk of new fires.

President Trump Scheduled to Visit Southern California

One of President Donald Trump's first actions as he makes a return to the Oval Office will be to visit the fire-ravaged region. The president's office confirmed a visit scheduled for Friday so that his administration can survey the damage. Trump had previously criticized Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom for his response to the fires, calling his team "incompetent."

Former Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to Los Angeles Monday afternoon to lend support. Harris visited a local fire station before distributing food and other supplies to residents impacted by the recent fires.

When Will Rain Finally Fall Across Southern California?

In addition to the high winds, a lack of rainfall is also fueling the wildfires. Downtown Los Angeles last recorded 0.1 inches of rain back in May of 2024. This part of the city has measured just 0.16 inches of rain since October 1. There has been no rain at all since the start of the new year.

According to the last update from the U.S. Drought Monitor, 90% of Los Angeles County is now under the designation of a severe drought. This lack of precipitation has contributed to the increasingly dry landscape. This means that any spark can quickly grow into a fire as the dry vegetation serves as tinder.

There is a bit of hope in the forecast. An area of low pressure is forecast to set up over Southern California this weekend. While the weather pattern will not deliver heavy rainfall, every little bit of moisture will help.

Looking at the forecast for Los Angeles this week, temperatures will be on the upswing in the coming days. After topping out with a high of about 70 degrees on Tuesday, the City of Angeles will see readings in the upper 70s on Wednesday and Thursday before another batch of cooler air starts to make its way into the region.

Los Angeles is forecast to see the mercury tumble on Saturday with a forecast high of just 59 degrees on tap. This is also when the greatest shot of moisture will happen. The rain is expected to begin on Saturday afternoon and linger into the overnight hours. An overnight low in the mid 40s will also provide relief to fire crews. Temperatures maxing out in the upper 50s on Sunday will pair with another chance of a rain shower before a drier and warmer weather pattern moves in next week.

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