Fire Officials Remain On High Alert In Orange County

ORANGE COUNTY, CA —Gusty winds buffeted much of the Southland Monday, although with less intensity than originally anticipated, but forecasters said the blustery conditions are expected to continue through much of the week, with strong Santa Ana winds re-emerging by Thursday.

On Monday, a brush fire in Pacific Palisades threatened multi-million dollar homes and sending a tower of smoke that was visible across Los Angeles.

Orange County Fire Authority officials said Sunday the agency was bolstering its staffing during the hot and dry conditions in hopes of being able to quickly douse any blazes that erupt in and around county borders.

"OCFA conducted an operational briefing of the up-staffed firefighters in anticipation of the fire weather event," they told Patch.

Four Strike Teams, two bulldozer crews, two hand crews and three helicopters were on alert, and ready for action, they said.

A wind advisory issued by the National Weather Service had been scheduled to be in effect until noon in the San Gabriel Mountains, the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area and the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys, but it was canceled at 9 a.m.

The weather service warned, however, that winds of around 35 mph were still gusting in some areas.

Forecasters noted that the winds were being accompanied by warmer weather, with temperatures up nearly 10 degrees compared to Sunday in valley and coastal areas.

"Highs will easily push into the mid- to upper-80s for most of these areas today and lower- to mid-90s just inland," according to the NWS.

Forecasters said Los Angeles County mountain and valley areas should anticipate strong and wide-spread northeast winds Monday night and into Tuesday morning, possibly leading to more wind advisories. The winds are expected to die down on Wednesday, but "a potentially stronger wind event may develop Thursday and Friday."

According to the NWS, the end-of-week Santa Ana winds could bring gusts nearly 55 mph in the Santa Clarita Valley, along with "very warm and dry" conditions across the county, with temperatures in the 80s or low 90s. Winds should slow slightly on Friday, but the weather will remain warm and dry, forecasters said.

Local fire officials remained on high alert due to the windy and dry conditions. Crews responded to and quickly doused a handful of flare-ups across the Southland Monday.

U.S. Forest Service officials urged people across the state to use caution in forest lands and be alert for fire threats, including any abandoned campfires that might still be smoldering.

City News Service, with Patch editor Ashley Ludwig