Strong Santa Ana winds are making it harder for firefighters to control wildfires in California, creating dangerous conditions.
Los Angeles: The Santa Ana winds are back, and they’re causing chaos for firefighters. These strong winds picked up again on Wednesday morning, making it tough to fight the wildfires. They had eased a bit on Tuesday, but now they’re expected to be even stronger.
The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for fire weather conditions early Wednesday. Some of these warnings will be lifted later in the day as the winds are expected to calm down. But until then, it’s a serious situation.
These winds, often called “devil winds,” start high up and blow down toward the coast. They come from Utah and Nevada, bringing dry, warm air that raises temperatures and lowers humidity. This combination is a recipe for disaster.
When the winds mix with fire, it’s nearly impossible to control. Kelly Bird from Unified Fire Authority, who’s in California helping fight the fires, said the winds can carry embers from one building to another in seconds, sparking new fires in different neighborhoods.
These winds not only speed up the fires but also make it dangerous for aircraft trying to help. 1st Lt. Aiden Flores from the California Air National Guard expressed concerns about flying in these conditions. The winds can change where the water and fire retardant land, making it tricky for pilots.
When the winds die down, it gives firefighters a chance to make progress. They need those breaks to get a handle on the flames. Right now, there are eight military C-130 planes in action, modified to help with firefighting. These planes can drop a massive amount of water or retardant in just seconds, and they’ve already released over 160,000 gallons in this battle.
