Wind-driven fires prompt evacuations and power cuts across California
Utility companies have shut off power to tens of thousands of customers to prevent new blazes.
Explainer
Multiple fires forced evacuations in Southern California on Thursday as hot, dry winds raised the risk of rapid spread. A blaze in Malibu grew to 200 acres, threatening a juvenile detention facility that was evacuated. Utilities cut power to over 127,000 customers across the state proactively to prevent new ignitions. The National Weather Service warned that increased wind gusts overnight could bolster fire activity, with dangerous conditions forecast through Saturday.
The Malibu fire prompted evacuation orders for a large area of the Santa Monica Mountains. Firefighters also battled a wind-driven brush fire in Azusa that burned over 40 acres and a blaze at Camp Pendleton that grew to more than 1.5 square miles. "It's a pretty widespread event of elevated fire weather, so the whole SoCal region should really be on alert," said Rose Schoenfeld, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Dry Santa Ana winds were expected to be strongest from Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon.
READ MORE: Wind warnings issued for far north as Northwestern Ontario sees mild days
READ MORE: Cold front brings wind, snow and hail risk to B.C. Interior
Where are the fires burning and what is the threat?
The Azusa fire led to evacuation orders for a foothills neighborhood, later downgraded to warnings. Jonathan Torres, a spokesperson with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, told KTLA-TV that about 200 firefighters had stopped the fire's forward progress by mid-afternoon. At Camp Pendleton, the fire threatened buildings and infrastructure, causing a power outage in the Las Pulgas area where it started. Military officials issued and later lifted evacuation orders for the Las Flores area and temporarily closed a section of Interstate 5. Crews from the Camp Pendleton Fire Department and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention responded to that blaze. The Malibu fire sent a large plume of black smoke visible for miles. The National Weather Service forecast wind gusts from 50 to 70 mph in the San Gabriel and Santa Susana mountains, which could increase fire activity.
Why are utilities cutting power to so many customers?
Pacific Gas and Electric Company cut power to nearly 62,000 customers in 26 Northern California counties starting Wednesday night. Southern California Edison cut power to an additional 65,000 customers in Los Angeles, Kern and Ventura counties on Thursday. The proactive shutoffs are a strategy utilities have adopted in recent years because some of California's worst wildfires have been sparked by power equipment during dry, windy weather. PG&E said it had notified 90,000 customers in 29 counties that they may lose power, with potential outages lasting through Saturday afternoon. Southern California Edison is considering public safety shutoffs that could affect 207,000 customers, most of them in Ventura County. The utility actions come as the National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for parts of central and Northern California, indicating conditions where fires would spread rapidly.
How do current conditions compare to past deadly fires?
The current Santa Ana winds are not as strong as those during the deadly fires of January 2025, when gusts reached 60 to 100 mph, Schoenfeld said. The Palisades Fire that month, fanned by those winds, killed 12 people in a Los Angeles hillside neighborhood. Authorities determined it was a carryover from another fire allegedly started intentionally. A simultaneous fire in Altadena, caused by sparks from a Southern California Edison transmission tower, killed 19 people and destroyed over 9,400 structures. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who faced criticism for the city's 2025 fire response, directed the fire department to deploy personnel and equipment ahead of the current winds. The department also requested assistance from the state's office of emergency services. A Red Flag Warning for mountainous areas of Ventura and Los Angeles counties remains in effect through Friday night.
What is the forecast for the coming days?
Hot, windy conditions that increase fire risk are expected to last through the weekend. The National Weather Service said increased wind gusts overnight could bolster existing fire activity. In Northern California, a Red Flag Warning is in effect through Friday morning for parts of the Sierra Nevada foothills and central regions where strong winds, high temperatures and low humidity began Wednesday night. Raised fire weather conditions were also forecast for portions of the Santa Lucia mountains in San Luis Obispo County. Weather conditions that increase the fire risk were expected to last through Saturday.
With files from Yahoo News, Ottumwa Courier and Jonesboro Sun