Red Flag Warnings Keep Firefighters On High Alert
SANTA CLARITA (CBSLA) — Red flag warnings were in place again Saturday night and Sunday as winds were expected to kick up.
The devastating fire season has been fueled by almost two weeks of red flag conditions. From the Bay Area to LA County, firefighters are now on high alert.
As the winds picked up again there was no break for fire crews or for people like Donna Lopez who was weary of all the soot and ash.
"I smell all the smoke," said Lopez. "Everyone's coming in and all the coughing."
The air is dry because there is very low humidity. But it's that combined with heavy winds firefighters fear most.
And firefighters worry winds overnight could push the Thomas Fire through more acreage, or worse drive new fires.
Robert Rendich said he almost lost his home to a wildfire eight years ago during high winds.
"They are doing a fantastic job," said Rendich. "I can't even imagine what these firefighters do with these conditions."
Officials up and down the state are sending out tweets like one from LA County warning of high winds in Malibu and the Hollywood Hills.
A reminder that even an oasis may not feel that way for long.
The National Weather Service warned that parts of Ventura and LA counties could see gusts up to 55 miles per hour before the night was out.