Southern California braces for high winds and heightened wildfire risk

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Monday that firefighters were working to prevent flare-ups and officials were ramping up efforts to recover from the devastating fires.

“Angelenos, it is hopeful that we are about 48 hours away from turning the page on this particular emergency, but until then, we’re going to do everything we can to keep you safe,” Bass said during a news conference.

The mayor continued to urge people to follow evacuation orders.

She also said rebuilding areas will take time.

Monday’s conditions were expected to be worse than they were last week, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service said.

James White, the weather service’s incident meteorologist for the Eaton Fire, noted the “particularly dangerous situation” warning for Monday was the third one issued this month for the L.A. area. White said the weather service uses the term when conditions are “truly exceptional or dangerous.”

The other two warnings were for when the wildfires broke out Jan. 7 and last Monday.

“This event today is going to fall between those two,” White said. “It’s not going to be as long or as severe as Jan. 7, but there are strong indications that it will be stronger and more widespread than what happened on Jan. 13.”

People in the Los Angeles area were warned Monday to be prepared if they suddenly need to evacuate from their homes.

“You should be prepared to leave immediately,” Daron Wyatt, a spokesperson for the agencies responding to the Eaton Fire, said during a news conference. “It’s not the time to start thinking about it, you need to be prepared.”

Wyatt urged people to sign up for emergency alerts, which they can do on a few Los Angeles County websites.

As of Monday morning, the Palisades Fire was 59% contained and had scorched 37 square miles, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.

The Eaton Fire was 87% contained and had burned over 14 square miles.

The National Weather Service issued another “particularly dangerous situation” warning starting Monday in Southern California.

“Take action now to prepare your home and loved ones for another round of EXTREME WIND and FIRE WEATHER,” the weather service said on social media.

Peak winds of at least 60 mph were expected in the mountains and hills and 50 mph winds were expected in the coasts and valleys.

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Two people from Oregon were arrested for allegedly impersonating firefighters inside of the Palisades fire zone over the weekend, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

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