New blaze erupts as California faces wildfire threat from powerful Santa Ana winds
Fire Weather Warnings are in place for much of Ventura County and western Los Angeles County through Wednesday. Strong Santa Ana winds and low humidity could cause a spark to quickly become a dangerous fast-moving wildfire like the ongoing Franklin Fire in Malibu.
Fire Weather Warning for Southern California
Santa Ana winds are peaking in intensity Wednesday morning and will continue through the day before weakening Wednesday evening in Southern California. These winds combined with minimum humidity in the 10 to 20 percent range are leading to critical fire weather conditions. This includes areas already ravaged by the Franklin Fire in Malibu, CA.
Firefighters and residents in Southern California are once again under critical fire weather conditions through Wednesday as the Franklin Fire continues to burn.
On Tuesday night, a new fire erupted in the hills west of Riverside and prompted local evacuations. The Soto Fire has burned 30 acres and is 20% contained, according to CAL Fire.
No injuries have been reported.
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center forecasters said more than 1.5 million Southern California residents face critical fire weather on Wednesday. The Santa Ana winds combined with low relative humidity down to 10% will create several hours of elevated critical fire weather conditions across the region.
Under these conditions, a spark could quickly spread into a fast-moving wildfire.
(FOX Weather)
Winds are expected to peak in intensity on Wednesday morning and persist through the day before weakening Wednesday evening.
This threat once again includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. This area includes Malibu, where the Franklin Fire continues to burn after already consuming more than 4,000 acres.
The northeast winds are expected to gust to 40-60 mph in the mountains of Ventura and western Los Angeles counties.
Photos from the Franklin Fire in Los Angeles County taken in December 2024.
(CAL FIRE)
The National Weather Service office in Los Angeles has issued Fire Weather and High Wind Warnings for much of Ventura County and western Los Angeles County through Wednesday afternoon.
(FOX Weather)
The Franklin Fire started on Dec. 9, during the previous round of critical fire weather for Malibu. The fire started after dark, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds.
CROSS OVERLOOKING MALIBU OFFERS HOPE TO PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY AFTER SURVIVING FRANKLIN FIRE
The Franklin Fire prompted widespread evacuations in Malibu Canyon for 20,000 people and threatened Pepperdine University, where students sheltered in place as flames raged by the campus.
At least 20 homes or structures have been destroyed since the fire began.
Watch: Pepperdine University students shelter in library as Franklin Fire rages
A video shared from California shows students sheltering inside a library at Pepperdine University as the Franklin Fire can be seen raging outside a window.
At more than 4,000 acres, the Franklin Fire has not grown in size for several days. According to CAL FIRE, fire crews continue to gain ground, and the blaze is now more than 89% contained. However, firefighters will now face a renewed threat of strong winds as they attempt to contain the blaze through Wednesday.