Santa Ana Winds Trigger Fire Alerts, Power Shutoffs Across California

The season's first Santa Ana wind event began Wednesday and intensified Thursday, bringing sustained winds of 20 to 40 mph with gusts up to 70 mph in mountain areas. Humidity levels dropped to 5-15% while temperatures reached 85-95 degrees, creating critical fire conditions across Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings effective Thursday and Friday for most of both counties. Climate scientist Daniel Swain noted areas west of the 405 Freeway face higher risk after receiving essentially zero rain, while eastern areas benefited from 2-5 inches of rainfall from post-Tropical Storm Rachel.

“This is not January 2025. The winds are not going to be anywhere near as strong. They will not be as widespread. The vegetation is not as dry. So every single factor is less extreme than in January 2025.”

Pacific Gas & Electric proactively cut power to nearly 62,000 customers across 26 Northern California counties Wednesday night. Southern California Edison de-energized an additional 19,000 customers in Los Angeles, Kern, and Ventura counties Thursday. Utilities have adopted preemptive shutoffs in recent years after power equipment sparked several of the state's worst wildfires.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass directed the fire department to pre-deploy personnel and equipment and requested state emergency assistance. A fire that sparked Thursday in Azusa, north of Los Angeles, prompted brief evacuation orders in the San Gabriel foothills before being contained.

Forecasters emphasized this event is far less extreme than the January 2025 conditions that preceded the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires. Winds are weaker, less widespread, and vegetation is less dry, though officials urge continued vigilance through Saturday.