Three wildfires force evacuations of areas in the southern part of a US state amid strong winds

Three wildfires mobilized emergency crews in Southern California amid the threat of spread due to intense winds. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)Three wildfires that broke out on Thursday, October 15, mobilized emergency crews in Southern California, where authorities issued evacuation orders and warnings to protect residents of threatened areas. The situation forced the restriction of traffic on some roads and the opening of spaces to receive displaced people. The emergency coincided with a Santa Ana winds event that led weather authorities to warn of conditions favorable for the rapid spread of fire. The phenomenon, common during fall and winter in this region, can combine intense gusts with low humidity and dry vegetation, which hinders firefighting efforts. Although all three fires began during the same weather event, authorities were keeping investigations into their causes open. The timing coincidence does not prove that the winds sparked the fires, but the forecast conditions did represent a risk factor for the advance of the flames and the safety of nearby communities. The Henderson Fire began at 2:35 p.m. local time on Thursday near the intersection of Henderson Street and Brown Street, inside the Camp Pendleton military base, in San Diego County. The Camp Pendleton Fire Department was in charge of operations, according to the incident report published by CAL FIRE. The affected area grew during the afternoon. At 3:25 p.m., air crews estimated that the fire had reached about 162 hectares. The 6:48 p.m. update recorded 1,118 acres, equivalent to about 452 hectares, and the 8:14 p.m. report raised the estimate to 1,404 acres, approximately 568 hectares. The cause remained under investigation. The fire's advance led to an evacuation order being issued for Las Flores, a sector identified within the base as Area 41. Affected personnel were to go to the Paige Field House, in Area 11. Later, authorities opened another evacuation point at the Area 21 gymnasium. The emergency also affected traffic on Interstate 5. The California Highway Patrol ordered the closure of the stretch between Harbor Drive and Basilone Road. Later, CAL FIRE reported that the full reopening of the highway was underway and that the evacuation order for Area 41 had been lifted. Authorities opened shelters for people and animals in Agoura Hills due to the Bryson Fire in Malibu. (REUTERS/David Swanson) The Bryson Fire began at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday near Encinal Canyon Road, in Malibu, within Los Angeles County. The fire grew rapidly during its first hours and continued to advance overnight. CAL FIRE's overnight report recorded an area of 200 acres, equivalent to about 81 hectares. However, on Friday, October 16, authorities reported that the fire was affecting approximately 147 acres, about 59 hectares, and had reached 17% containment. The most recent figure represented a downward revision of the area estimated in the previous report, not an increase. The cause remained under investigation. Authorities issued evacuation orders for sectors KAN-U017 and SYC-U016-A. They also issued warnings for other nearby areas, including parts of Malibu and communities in the Santa Monica Mountains. The codes used in the notices correspond to sectors delineated to manage the emergency. To care for displaced people, a shelter was opened at Agoura High School, in Agoura Hills. Space was also made available for evacuated animals at the Agoura Animal Care Center and the Pierce College Equestrian Center, according to official instructions. The difference between an order and a warning is relevant during an emergency. An order indicates that there is an immediate threat and that residents must leave the area. A warning indicates that the danger may increase and that people should prepare to leave, especially if they need more time to organize the relocation of family members or animals. The Peak Fire began at 1:43 p.m. on Thursday north of San Gabriel Canyon Road and Mirador Drive, in Azusa, east of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The operation was under joint command of the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the United States Forest Service, through the Angeles National Forest. The official 7:44 p.m. update put the affected area at 43 acres, equivalent to about 17 hectares, with containment at 41%. The cause also remained under investigation. During the first hours, authorities issued an evacuation order for sector AZU-MC01 and warnings for other nearby areas. The mandatory order was later lifted, although warnings remained in place for some sectors of the area. A shelter was also opened at the Memorial Park North Recreational Center, on Orange Avenue. In addition, northbound traffic on San Gabriel Canyon Road was restricted at Sierra Madre to facilitate emergency operations. The measures responded to the fire's evolution and the need to keep the access routes used by response teams clear. The National Weather Service issued red flag alerts in several California counties due to the Santa Ana winds. (REUTERS/David Swanson) The National Weather Service warned that east and northeast winds could reach speeds of between 32 and 56 kilometers per hour, with gusts of between 80 and 113 kilometers per hour in mountainous areas and exposed corridors of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. In particularly exposed spots, forecasts called for isolated gusts of up to 145 kilometers per hour. In San Diego County, the most intense conditions were expected in mountains, passes, canyons, foothills, and inland valleys. Lower speeds were forecast for coastal sectors. These figures corresponded to weather forecasts and not to confirmed measurements at each location affected by the fires. The main risk for emergency crews was the combination of wind, low humidity, and dry vegetation. Gusts can carry embers into unburned areas, spark secondary fires, and hinder ground and aerial operations. When vegetation is dry, flames can also spread more quickly. The National Weather Service issued red flag alerts for areas of Los Angeles and Ventura, as well as inland areas of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. These alerts indicate that weather conditions favorable for the rapid spread of fire are coinciding; they do not mean that a fire has been declared in every area under warning. The forecast pointed to winds reaching their greatest intensity on Friday, October 16, before gradually diminishing over the weekend. The evolution of weather conditions could modify the risk of spread and firefighters' ability to intervene, although decisions on evacuations and restrictions depended on the authorities responsible for each incident. California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered on October 14 that the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Office of Emergency Services reinforce preparedness in light of the weather forecast. The measure included the preventive mobilization of firefighters, trucks, aircraft, and specialized equipment. The resources were distributed across Orange, Ventura, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara counties. The goal was to bring personnel and equipment closer to the areas considered to be at highest risk and to strengthen coordination with local fire departments. The State Operations Center also moved to a heightened level of readiness. The deployments began on Thursday, October 15, and were planned through Sunday the 18th. Local authorities were to determine where to position the resources and how to allocate them according to weather conditions and operational needs. Early mobilization helps reduce response times when new fires break out, but it does not determine where a fire will start nor guarantee that all incidents can be avoided. Investigations into the origin of the three fires remained open, with no official information confirming a common cause.