Fierce winds blast through Southern California, fueling Fontana house fire
Fierce winds fueled fires and overturned big rigs in Southern California Wednesday.
The high winds helped a fire spread to two homes on Boyle Avenue in Fontana, destroying both.
The fire began as a vegetation fire on the side of the 10 Freeway but the strong winds quickly swept it into a residential area.
One Fontana neighbor helplessly watched as the fire destroyed her home.
"Our house is done with," said Emily Navarro. "It's on fire."
Several big rigs in the Inland Empire area were also overturned Wednesday morning due to the high winds.
The NWS reported that a gust of 102 mph was recorded Wednesday morning near the Magic Mountain Truck Trail.
According to the National Weather Service, "wind-prone" coastal and valley areas were expected to receive winds of 40 to 60 mph, with mountain areas possibly getting gusts up to 75 mph.
"Santa Ana winds arrived on schedule and with the expected intensity in most areas," according to the NWS. "Gradients and winds aloft peaked earlier this morning (Wednesday) so for the most part winds should slowly be decreasing through the day, but still remain quite strong. Temperatures will warm up today with the good downsloping flow off the mountains but remain cool across the interior.
Humidity levels were expected to fall as low as 6 to 12% Wednesday afternoon, bringing the dry conditions that can combine with gusting winds and lead to dangerous fire conditions.
Red flag warnings will be in force until 7 p.m. in the LA County Mountains, the Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys, the Malibu coast and the Santa Monica Mountains. The red flags also extend to much of Ventura County.
"If fire ignition occurs there could be rapid spread of wildfire that would lead to a threat to life and property," according to the weather service.
A high wind warning remains in effect by the National Weather Service from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday for the cities of Riverside, San Bernardino, Ontario, Moreno Valley, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Corona, Crestline, Lake Arrowhead, Big Bear City, Big Bear Lake, Running Springs, Wrightwood, Santa Ana, Anaheim, Garden Grove, Irvine, Orange, Fullerton, and Mission Viejo.
A wind advisory will be in effect for Orange County coastal areas.