Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell on Sunday raised alarms about increasing wildfire risks in Southern California. Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union, Criswell warned that strong winds and dry conditions could intensify the ongoing fires, which have already consumed over 62 square miles in Los Angeles County.
“I believe the red flag warnings have been put back in place,” Criswell stated. “The biggest thing that people need to know is that this is still dangerous, and they still need to make sure they’re listening to their local officials so they can keep themselves safe.”
The fires, which started in four Los Angeles neighborhoods, have claimed 16 lives and destroyed thousands of acres. According to CalFire, the Pacific Palisades fire is only 11% contained, while the Eaton Canyon blaze in the San Gabriel Mountains has reached 27% containment. Combined, these two fires have scorched 59 square miles.
The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings of severe fire conditions through Wednesday, predicting sustained winds of 50 mph and gusts exceeding 70 mph. Meteorologist Rich Thompson identified Tuesday as the most critical day for fire activity, citing strong Santa Ana winds and extremely dry vegetation as key factors.
“You’re going to have really strong gusty Santa Ana winds, a very dry atmosphere, and still very dry brush,” Thompson emphasized during a community meeting Saturday.
Approximately 150,000 residents remain under evacuation orders, with over 700 seeking refuge in shelters. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna urged residents to comply with evacuation orders to avoid endangering themselves and emergency responders.
“We even made arrests of two individuals posing as firefighters,” said Los Angeles Police Department Captain Michael Lorenz, reporting seven looting-related arrests over the weekend.
Criswell highlighted the unpredictable nature of the fires as winds intensify. “With the winds picking back up, you never know which way they’re going to go,” she said. “It’s going to change the environment with which [firefighters] are operating under. The most important piece is keeping them safe as they try to protect all the homes that are in the path of the fire.”
As firefighters work tirelessly to contain the blazes, the coming days are critical. FEMA, local officials, and meteorologists are urging residents to heed warnings and prepare for potential evacuations as high winds threaten to worsen the already dire situation.
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