COUNTYWIDE : Controlled Burn Goes Out of Bounds

Driven by gusty winds, an Orange County Fire Department controlled burn in Emerald Canyon temporarily got out of hand Thursday, and hovering smoke from the fire prompted several concerned residents to call department officials on Friday.

“The winds just spread the prescribed fire a little further than we wanted at that time,” said Capt. Hank Raymond, public information officer for the department. “Dryness mixed with wind just caused the fire to jump the lines, but the area burned was within the 500-acre controlled burn site.”

Controlled burns are set to clear areas of dry vegetation so they can’t fuel a more serious fire.

“With the clouds being so low, the smoke just sits there like it’s under a lid,” Raymond explained.

The burn operation is expected to continue through Thursday, officials said.

Santa Ana winds are expected to resume across most of Southern California today, according to WeatherData information services.

The winds are expected to help clear clouds and preserve warm temperatures throughout the region for most of the weekend.

Area beach skies should be clear with northwest winds about 30 m.p.h. below coastal canyons. Overnight lows should range from about 42 degrees to the mid-50s, with highs today in the 70s.

Friday’s temperature reached only about 65 degrees.

Valley and coastal skies are expected to be clear with gusty northeast winds averaging about 30 m.p.h. below northern canyons and passes. Lows should remain from about 38 to 45 degrees.