Windstorm Buffets LA County As Fires Rage

LOS ANGELES, CA — Wildfires across Los Angeles County pumped the skies full of wind-driven smoke, late Thursday into Friday. Much of the Southland remained under a red flag warning amid low humidity coupled with gusting winds. The San Fernando Valley's Saddleridge fire burned over 4,500 acres, burning down homes and prompting mandatory evacuation orders affecting tens of thousands of people. One person was confirmed to have died during the blaze.

The communities most affected were Sylmar, Granada Hills, and Porter Ranch. Around 30,000 inhabitants were ordered evacuated in its entirety early Friday morning.

Given the abundance of dry vegetation and strong winds, the Saddleridge Fire burned swiftly westward into Ventura County.

Another wildfire broke out in the Newbury Park area, near Ventura county, overnight. The Wendy Fire has burned over 90 acres as of Friday morning.

"A moderate to strong Santa Ana wind event will continue to bring dangerous fire weather conditions to most of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties through late Friday afternoon," according to a National Weather Service statement.

Wind gusts of between 45 and 55 miles per hour are expected across coastal and valley areas, with gusts of between 55 and 75 mph in the foothills and mountains.

Single-digit humidity levels remained in the forecast through Friday, making firefighting even more difficult.

The red flag warning, which went into force at 3 a.m. Thursday, is expected to expire at 6 p.m. Friday but could be extended into Saturday, according to the NWS.

Northeast winds of 25 to 45 mph with gusts of 65 to 75 mph were expected through Friday across the western portions of the Angeles National Forest and the western Santa Monica Mountains amid humidity levels of 3-10%, the NWS said.

Even before Friday morning's wild fire, the NWS warned of extreme fire behavior, which would threaten life and property, if ignition occurred.

Northeast winds of 20 to 35 mph with 55-mph gusts are forecast in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys and eastern Ventura County.

Northeast winds of 20-30 mph with 50-mph gusts were forecast in the Foothills of the San Gabriel Valley and the Los Angeles coastal zone, which stretches from Malibu to the Hollywood Hills and includes metropolitan L.A.

Sunny skies were forecast in L-A County Friday, along with highs of 70 on Mount Wilson; 77 in Avalon; 74 in Palmdale; 75 in Lancaster; 77 in Avalon; 86 at LAX; 87 in San Gabriel and Burbank; 88 in Downtown L.A. and Woodland Hills: and 90 in Long Beach and Pasadena. Temperatures will steadily decline over the coming days.

Though no fires were reported in Orange County on Friday morning, firefighters were assisting across the southland, rendering mutual aid.

Sunny skies were also forecast in Orange County, along with highs of 64 on Santiago Peak; 77 on Ortega Highway at 2,600 feet; 80 in Newport Beach, Laguna Beach and San Clemente; 87 in Yorba Linda; 88 in Mission Viejo; and 89 in Fullerton, Anaheim and Irvine. Temperatures will decline steadily in the coming days.