Firefighters remained on alert today, Oct. 3, as unseasonable high heat, gusty Santa Ana winds and low humidity continued the threat of wildfires across the Southland.
The LAFD is planning to deploy 11 engine companies and five brush patrols, Fire Capt. Richard Moody told the Palisadian-Post.
Moody said Light Force 69 will also be active on Friday as a red flag warning continues to be in effect.
The red flag warning will remain active in mountain, forest and valley areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties until about 7 p.m. this evening when it is scheduled to expire.
Valley areas in Los Angeles and Ventura counties are expected to experience temperatures in the 100s today and even higher temperatures Saturday.
“The combination of rising temperatures, very low humidity and offshore breezes in combination with critically dry vegetation will bring a high fire danger to much of southwest California through this weekend,” according to a National Weather Service statement.
Winds of between 15 and 20 miles per hour are expected in the Santa Monica and San Gabriel Mountains today, gusting to 35 mph, NWS forecasters said.
This morning’s strongest gusts in L.A. County reported in the San
Gabriels: 32 mph in Warm Springs, 29 mph at Whitaker Peak, and 27 mph in Chilao.
The humidity level will be between 4 and 10 percent today, and mountain temperatures will be in the 90s.
“With extremely dry fuels in place, if fire ignition occurs there could
be a rapid spread of wildfire that would lead to a threat to life and property,” the NWS said in a statement.
The National Weather Service forecast highs of 99 in Pacific Palisades; 95 at LAX; 100 in downtown L.A. and 105 in Woodland Hills.
Saturday’s temperatures are forecast to be slightly higher, with a cooling trend getting underway Sunday.
Staff and wire services
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