Cal Fire gives update on wildfire response

Cal Fire communications gives an update on the wildfires in California that includes high winds and dry conditions.

Transcript

00:00Joining us is David Acuna with Cal Fire Communications, who is literally taking calls

00:05as you know, getting on this call. We understand your time is very precious. So David,

00:08let's get right to it. What's the latest on several of the wildfires across Southern California?

00:14Good morning, Bernino Ariel. Thanks so much for having me on. So Southern California is

00:19experiencing a severe wind event with wind speeds of 60 to 100 miles per hour coming out of the

00:25desert. And so at least a very, very dry conditions. And with the winds just blowing

00:31incredibly fast through these foothills, it's blowing faster than we can move. Right now we

00:37have five, excuse me, four major fires with a fifth one that just popped up. And we're looking

00:42to see what how that's going to develop. As the Palisades fires you've been seeing, it's more

00:47than 3000 acres. I'm looking for that to develop here into a larger number shortly. And then we

00:53also have the Eaton fire near Altadena, which is growing significantly. And David, for those that

01:03don't live in California and don't understand, could you explain how these conditions

01:11could are so severe that fires can start so easily and spread so rapidly?

01:20Absolutely. So generally in the Southern California area, primarily in the LA area,

01:25where the Palisades are, the wind comes off of the ocean, blows in, it's nice and humid and cool.

01:30No big deal. What happens sometimes on you have a high pressure system that rolls in through the

01:35desert area into the east, and there's a narrow, narrow channel that the wind flows through. And

01:43that's where we get these north winds that are blowing the fire, the Palisades, the Eaton,

01:49and the other fires out of control. And how about the crews, you know,

01:55where are they being dispatched and where are you most concerned that additional fires could spread

02:00to? Well, the red flag warning, which has actually been added to is now a PDS, particularly dangerous

02:08situation by the National Weather Service, is affecting the area from Ventura all the way to

02:15San Diego. So any of that area is a potential start. And that's because 95% of all wildfires

02:23are started by humans. That is our biggest thing. We want to make sure that people remember to cause

02:29one less spark. And lastly, quickly, could you explain

02:34just how difficult it is to fight these fires and get them out when you have these conditions?

02:42Absolutely. So, you know, the winds blowing so fast, as I'm sure you've seen on some of the

02:47videos, people trying to escape the areas because they waited as long as they could.

02:54Unfortunately, on very narrow roadways, sometimes the cars will get backed up and then makes it

03:00very difficult to leave. We've moved crews from the north part of the state all the way down to

03:04the south and we'll continue to do so as long as there is a need. And for any additional information,

03:09people can navigate to fire.ca.gov to see the fires, the local evacuation warnings and evacuation

03:16orders. David Acuna with Cal Fire Communications. Thanks again for joining us. I know you have a

03:21busy day and week here ahead. We appreciate you being with us on Active Weather Early.