Red Flag Warning Remains In Effect Through Saturday Afternoon
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A Red Flag Warning remains in effect Friday as gusty winds and low humidity plague the Southland.
The warning went into effect Thursday and will last through 2 p.m. Saturday for much of Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside, Orange and San Bernardino counties.
A High Wind Warning will remain in effect until 5 a.m. Saturday, the National Weather Service said.
Wind gusts of more than 30 mph have been reported in Simi Valley and officials say gusts as high as 65 mph can be expected.
"If fire ignition occurs . . . the combination of critical fire weather conditions and very dry fuels will create the potential of rapidly spreading wildfire," NWS officials said.
Red Flag parking restrictions have also been put in place for hillside residential areas.
"One of the biggest challenges we have is access to these very densely populated, congested areas," Cpt. Jamie Moore of the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department has staffed 200 extra firefighters on a modified schedule as a precaution for what officials are calling the biggest Santa Ana event of the year.
"We have our fire patrol units are actually going to be out patrolling today, looking for signs of fires," Batt. Chief Anthony Marrone of the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.
