Strong, Possibly Damaging Winds To Stick Around Through Saturday
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Strong and possibly damaging Santa Ana winds continue to plague Southern California with gusts of up to 80 miles per hour expected in some mountain areas.
The National Weather Service says a high wind warning for Los Angeles County will remain in effect through 3 p.m. Saturday.
According to the NWS, the strongest winds are possible in the passes, canyons, and mountain areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
In Santa Clarita, gusts of nearly 50 mph were recorded on Friday, forcing at least one large tree to tumble on Pine and 6th streets.
Another large tree collapsed in Simi Valley at Cochran Street between Galena and Sequoia avenues, knocking out power for 1,400 people. Electricity has since been restored to residents in that area.
Strong winds were also gusting through the Inland Empire.
The LADWP urged residents to report any downed power lines in the area.
"We want anyone who sees a downed line to consider it energized and to stay away and to call the 1-800-DIAL-DWP number and our crews will be dispatched and get out there," Kim Hughes with LADWP told KNX 1070's Vytas Safronikas.
Strong, Possibly Damaging Santa Ana Winds To Stick Around Through Saturday
Meanwhile, fire crews were fanned out across the region in what authorities have said is the largest deployment since 2002 due to a red flag warning. That warning is set to expire at 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Erik Scott, a spokesperson with the Los Angeles Fire Department, says the bone dry vegetation is prime to burn.
"We're pre-deploying additional resources and I expect this to go on through Saturday morning where we're gonna have additional firefighters that will be placed in select neighborhood fire stations serving those high hazard brush areas," Scott said.
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