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Red Flag Warning Prompts Fire Agencies To Increase Staffing

SANTA CLARITA (CBSLA.com) — A Red Flag warning Tuesday prompted local fire agencies to increase staffing in fire-prone areas ahead of anticipated winds and low humidity levels across the Southland.

The National Weather Service issued the warning, which is set to expire at 6 p.m., for parts of Los Angeles and Orange counties.

Sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph and gusts of up to 50 mph are expected.

A Wind Advisory, expiring at 6 p.m., has also been issued for the Inland Empire and Orange County.

In preparation, the Los Angeles County Fire Department has staffed 60 extra firefighters at stations in Malibu, Santa Clarita and La Canada/Flintridge.

"The brush is very dry this year . . . we haven't received wetting rains and so as long as those rains are still missing from the equations, we're gonna still see these Red Flags pop up until we get those," Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Tony Akins said.

The Los Angeles Fire Department will also add additional firefighters at select stations serving high-brush areas, including Los Feliz, Studio City/Valley Village, Encino, Woodland Hills and Encino Hills.

The increased staffing was expected to last through Wednesday morning, pending weather conditions.

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