Wildfire Warnings Extended Across Southern California

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 23, 2007 (none) -- Because of strong, gusting winds, the mountains and passes of Los Angeles and Ventura counties will be under a wildfire warning until 6 p.m. Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

Even though high temperatures are expected to be in the 70s, the Weather Service issued a Red Flag warning, meaning critical wildfire conditions, because of Santa Ana winds that are expected to return tonight and tomorrow, putting firefighters on alert across the Southland.

"The warnings are for the public and for firefighters," said Weather Service meteorologist Dave Bruno.

"Especially for firefighters, so they can anticipate potential problems in specific areas. It's been so dry, a small spark can ignite a fire in these conditions," Bruno said.

The winds are expected to be strongest and most widespread late tonight through Saturday afternoon, with moderate to locally strong Santa Ana winds at times, according to the Weather Service.

Fire crews and extra equipment from across the West are here on standby.

In addition to county and state resources, federal assets assigned to be ready for strong winds include 11 air tankers, 18 helicopters, four military C-130s equipped for retardant drops, five lead planes, 170 fire engines, 21 hand crews and three incident management teams, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

A Red Flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions -- a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures -- are either occurring or will shortly.

The Los Angeles fire department will enforce parking restrictions for the Hollywood Hills and other fire-prone areas with narrow winding roads until 10 p.m. Saturday.

Signs are posted on the streets affected by the restrictions, and homeowners can find out when the restrictions are in place by logging on to LAFD.org/redflag, said city fire spokesman Ron Myers.

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