Dry Winds Spark Fire Alert in Valley

County fire officials called a red-flag alert Monday in the face of high temperatures, low humidity and gusting winds, increasing staffing levels and fire patrols for the beginning of what authorities worry could be a menacing fire season.

And officials of the Los Angeles Fire Department reinforced stations throughout the San Fernando Valley in response to a fire-weather rating of “extreme,” one stage below the highest level, “critical.”

“From here on out, we anticipate the fire rating to be in the very high to the extreme levels for the remainder of this month,” said Brian Humphrey, of the Los Angeles Fire Department. “We suggest Southern California residents use extreme caution with fire or in activities that may cause fire, especially in the out-of-doors.”

Humphrey said Monday’s conditions necessitated a redeployment of fire personnel, from low-danger areas such as Century City and Venice to more vulnerable areas inthe San Fernando Valley, including Porter Ranch, Sun Valley, Woodland Hills, Laurel Canyon and West Hills.

Conditions also prompted the Fire Department to enhance response to brush fire calls. That means three additional engines join the normal eight-engine brush fire contingent, four helicopters go up rather than the normal two and four L.A. County hand crews assist on every call.

Further worrying fire officials is the fact that the weather conditions are unlikely to change, at least through the middle of the week, the National Weather Service reported.

“It means dry wind, and very bad conditions for fire,” said Bruce Rockwell, a meteorologist with the weather service. “We haven’t had any rain, so the low humidity and the high winds mean it’s as bad as it can be in terms of fire potential.”

On Monday, the Santa Clarita area had the strongest wind gusts of the three valley areas, at 30-40 mph, according to the National Weather Service. The Antelope Valley area, however, reported wind speeds similar to most of the San Fernando Valley, with 20- to 30-mph winds.

Daytime highs through early Wednesday are expected to hover in the mid-80s in the San Fernando Valley, with nighttime lows in the 50s, Rockwell said.

Toward the middle to the end of the week, however, Rockwell expects cooler temperatures with a return of the normal easterly winds and higher humidity, with night and morning low clouds and fog.

Although conditions were right for fire on Monday, hot spots were relatively few.

One small blaze, on a 7-acre stretch of land at the Pitchess jail in Castaic, drew a massive response and resulted in one firefighter’s suffering minor smoke inhalation.

County authorities deployed five helicopters, two SuperScooper planes and more than 100 firefighters to combat the blaze, said Inspector Michael Carnes of the county Fire Department.

“One of the philosophies we take in these conditions is to pour in a lot of resources right now, to keep it to 7 acres,” Carnes said. “We can knock them down quick and keep them from being wildfires that would burn through a neighborhood.”

Monday’s conditions further highlighted the city and county’s troubles this season with inspecting and enforcing brush clearance.

The Los Angeles City Council’s public safety committee last month recommended a $1.8-million package that would empower the city Fire Department to hire more inspectors and brush-clearing contractors. Fire officials told the committee on Sept. 28 that about 6,000 properties in the fire-prone mountain areas were in violation of the city’s brush-clearing ordinance.

The county Fire Department is also working to identify properties in need of clearance, well past its self-imposed Aug. 31 deadline.

Assistant Chief John Todd, of the department’s forestry division, said that within the Valley areas, only the 274 inspected properties in Kagel Canyon, near Lake View Terrace, are 100% in compliance.

In the Santa Clarita area, only 74% of 3,355 inspected properties are complying with brush-clearance laws. In the Antelope Valley, of 5,087 properties inspected, 87% are in compliance.

Todd said he believes the compliance rates to be higher than reflected in the statistics, since there is some lag time in reporting improvement work by property owners.

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Santa Anas Return

At last, a weather phenomenon other than El Nino has arrived. Fall’s “Red Wind,” as Raymond Chandler dubbed the Santa Anas, made its season debut Monday with its customary gusts, high temperatures and low humidity. The dry winds are the result of several meteorological events, and are part of a complex weather system that extends throughout the Western states.

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How Wind Gets Dry and Fast

Dry: The sinking air motion can cause humidity to go down to single digits.

Fast: Wind gains speed as it is funneled through the narrow mountain passes and canyons.

Jet Stream: Powerful Santa Ana winds need a strong jet stream. The jet stream’s position on Monday was over the Great Basin.

High Pressure: A dome of high pressure was positioned over north central Nevada.

Cold Front: Cool air from a cold front moved through the Great Basin and Rockies over the weekend.

Air Circulation: Air circulating clockwise in the high-pressure system moved west, toward Southern California, becoming the northeasterly winds called Santa Anas.

Sources: James Murakami, meteorologist at UCLA Atmospheric Science Department; National Weather Service. WeaterData Inc.