World News Blog

Monday, October 13, 2008

Santa Ana winds wind up S. California fires

Santa Ana winds are igniting and spreading fires in Southern California and are expected to gust until Wednesday evening.

The warm, dry winds seasonally blow from the inland region between October and February often causing damaging fires. The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings for Ventura and Los Angeles counties lasting until Wednesday night.

CBS News
Santa Ana winds ignite dormant wildfire in California
CNN International - 2 hours ago
... California (CNN) -- A fire that has burned more than 3500 acres in the Angeles National Forest flared up Monday with the arrival of strong Santa Ana ...

Video: Winds Whip Up SoCal Wildfire AssociatedPress
Wildfires burn homes, kill 1 in Los Angeles area The Associated Press
Firefighters battle blaze north of Los Angeles AFP

Intense Santa Ana winds swept into Southern California on Monday morning and whipped up a 3,000-acre wildfire, forcing the closure of a major freeway and burning mobile homes and industrial buildings. (Oct. 13)

Play
Winds whip up SoCal wildfire
AP via Yahoo! News - 2 hours, 37 minutes ago

An airplane drops water on a brush fire in Los Angeles on Monday, Oct. 13, 2008. Intense Santa Ana winds swept into Southern California Monday morning and whipped up a 3,700-acre wildfire, burning mobile homes and industrial buildings and forcing the evacuation of eight patients from a nearby hospital. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg) (AP/DAN STEINBERG)

Fire consumes a structure as fighters battle the blaze early Monday morning, Oct. 13, 2008, north of Los Angeles. Intense Santa Ana winds swept into Southern California and whipped up a 3,700-acre wildfire early Monday, burning mobile homes and industrial buildings and forcing the evacuation of eight patients from a nearby hospital. (AP Photo/Mike Meadows) (AP/Mike Meadows)

Three unidentified men evacuate a horse during a fast moving, wind driven brush fire in Los Angeles on Monday, Oct. 13, 2008. Intense Santa Ana winds swept into Southern California on Monday morning and whipped up a 3,000-acre wildfire, forcing the closure of a major freeway and burning mobile homes and industrial buildings. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg) (AP/DAN STEINBERG)

Vehicles burn early Monday morning, Oct. 13, 2008, north of Los Angeles after intense Santa Ana winds swept into Southern California and whipped up a 3,700-acre wildfire. (AP Photo/Mike Meadows)

Flames roar down hillsides early Monday morning, Oct. 13, 2008, north of Los Angeles after intense Santa Ana winds swept into Southern California and whipped up a 3,700-acre wildfire. (AP Photo/Mike Meadows)

Labels: california fires, fire season, fires, santa ana winds, southern california

Thursday, July 03, 2008

California fires could burn throughout summer

It's a scary thought for California residents, but if the 1000 plus fires now burning throughout the state are not brought under control soon, they could end up burning all summer long.

The months of September and October are usually the worse of California's fire season after vegetation has dried out over the summer. July and August are traditionally hot and dry months, but the forecast is for this year's drought to continue through the summer making things even more precarious.

California has suffered drought for several years so vegetation is already tinder-dry, and with each passing week more moisture is sucked from trees and brush. July 4 is the celebration of American independence when many people buy and ignite firework displays. These often include illegal explosive fireworks.

With hot and windy conditions forecast, the problem could get worse if more fires are sparked by the fireworks.

A firefighting air tanker drops fire retardant south of Isabella ...

Thu Jul 3, 12:00 AM ET

A firefighting air tanker drops fire retardant south of Isabella Lake, California. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday ordered the evacuation of about 200 homes in the fire-threatened coastal resort of Big Sur as 1,400 wildfires raged out of control across parts of the state.

(AFP/Getty Images/David Mcnew)

Labels: california fires, drought, fireworks, wildfires