Fire crews pre-deployed as red flag warning hits Southern California

With the first Santa Ana wind event of the season bringing increased fire danger to a warm and dry Southern California this week, Gov. Gavin Newsom has decided to send additional firefighting resources to the region.

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services approved the pre-deployment of 129 firefighting personnel and equipment to Los Angeles and Ventura counties, the Governor’s Press Office announced on Tuesday.

“This predeployment includes 10 fire engines, three water tenders, three helicopters, three hand crews, and three dispatchers with 107 support personnel,” the Press Office said. “Additional engines and staff will be added based on local needs.”

The pre-deployment allows fire crews to respond quickly to mitigate the impact of any new fires.

Weather risks

The decision comes as the National Weather Service has issued red flag, heat and wind advisories across several Southern California counties.

Winds are forecast to reach 15 to 30 mph on Tuesday with gusts as high as 45 mph, while relative humidity may fall as low as 5 to 10% during the warning period.​

The heat advisory extends from Tuesday morning through 7 p.m. Wednesday for portions of Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Temperatures in the San Fernando Valley are expected to reach into the mid-90s on Tuesday.

“If fire ignition occurs, conditions are favorable for extreme fire behavior, rapid fire growth, and long-range spotting, which could threaten life and property,” the NWS said.

Staying safe

Residents were urged to:

• Prepare a wildfire action plan, including planning evacuation routes and packing a go-bag with essentials.
• Sign up for local emergency alerts to stay informed about changing conditions.
• For more information on fire safety and general preparedness, visit Ready.ca.gov.
• Visit CalHeatScore.CalEPA.ca.gov to find heat safety information specific to your area.

Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to be the warmest days of the week, with slightly cooler temperatures beginning on Thursday.