Southern California Faces Ongoing Wildfires, Dangerous Winds, and Potential Rain Risks

As firefighters battle devastating blazes, officials prepare for toxic runoff and debris flows from forecasted rainfall this weekend.

The Palisades and Eaton fires, which began on January 7, have claimed 27 lives, destroyed over 14,000 structures, and burned more than 40,000 acres in Southern California.
Dangerous Santa Ana winds, with gusts reaching up to 100 mph in some areas, continue to fuel fire risks, prompting red flag warnings through Thursday across Los Angeles, Ventura, and San Diego counties.
Authorities are bracing for light rain this weekend, which could trigger toxic ash runoff and debris flows in fire-scarred areas, though meteorologists say significant rainfall is unlikely at this time.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom have issued executive orders to expedite cleanup efforts and mitigate environmental hazards in anticipation of rainfall.
Southern California Edison has preemptively shut off power to over 60,000 customers to reduce fire risks, with additional precautionary shutoffs under consideration for over 200,000 more.