Santa Ana Wind: 'We've Never Used Purple Before'

LOS ANGELES, CA — Several wildfires in southern California have already forced tens of thousands of people from their homes and destroyed nearly 200 homes and buildings, but that figure is almost certain to grow as the state braces for hurricane-force gusts. The region has experienced yellow flag, orange flag, and red flag. But never purple flag. That is, until now.

Santa Ana Winds returned Wednesday night with a vengeance after a day-long lull that allowed firefighters to make progress against the blazes. Nearly 200,000 people were forced to evacuate in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Southern California hasn't seen Santa Ana winds this fierce in a decade.

According to Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Ralph Terrazas, the agency's "brush burning index," which rates the fire danger was at 296 — "the highest number I've ever seen in my career." The normal threshold is 165.

The color-coded system showing the expected strength of the winds has reached uncharted territory, pushing past red — which means "high" — into the color that means "extreme."

The forecast for Thursday is purple, said Ken Pimlott, director at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

"We've never used purple before," he said.

And the hard-fought progress of firefighters could be erased on Thursday.

"We're talking winds that can surface that can be 80 miles an hour," Pimlott said. "These will be winds that there will no ability to fight fires."

Watch: Powerful Winds Boost California Fire Danger

Such winds can instantly turn a tiny fire into a large one, or carry embers that spark new fires miles away.

Millions of cellphones buzzed loudly Tuesday night from San Diego to Santa Barbara with a sound that usually means an Amber Alert, but this time meant a rare weather warning for strong winds making extreme fire dangerous.

Officials hope the electronic push will keep the whole region alert and keep the death toll from the week's fires at zero.

The wilder winds could easily make new fires explode too, as one did Wednesday in Los Angeles' exclusive Bel-Air section, where a fire consumed multimillion-dollar houses that give the rich and famous sweeping views of Los Angeles.

City News Service and The Associated Press contributed to this report. A Los Angeles County firefighter prepares to battle a hot spot on the "Creek Fire" in the Lake View Terrace area of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)