Officials Warn of Strong Winds Overnight and Extreme Fire Danger in Southern California through Friday

Published:

Source: http://www.weather.gov/sgx/

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – With strong winds expected overnight and extreme fire conditions in the forecast through Friday in Southern California, public safety officials will issue a region-wide emergency alert at 8:00 P.M. PST Wednesday asking residents to stay ready, monitor local news and listen to local authorities.

The following alert will be sent via text message through the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system to cell phone users across Southern California:

“Strong winds overnight creating extreme fire danger. Stay alert. Listen to authorities.”

The geographically-targeted text messages will be sent to residents in San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Orange, Ventura and Los Angeles counties where red flag warnings have been issued.

The alert comes as the National Weather Service is forecasting an extreme Santa Ana Wind event beginning tonight, Wednesday, with 18 to 24 hours of strong winds gusting 50-80 miles per hour. The predicted winds, coupled with very dry conditions, mean that any fires that start will have a high probability of rapid growth.

“The state’s emergency operations center is fully activated and we are coordinating with all state agencies to continue our response to current fires and pre-position resources in case new fires emerge in the coming days,” said Mark Ghilarducci, Director of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

“We have been staffing up with additional personnel and equipment in Southern California over the past several days and our Incident Commanders have access to a wide variety of firefighting resources,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, CAL FIRE Director. “But let me be clear, no amount of resources can keep up with the predicted conditions. Firefighters and law enforcement will be prioritizing life safety and working to effect evacuations where needed. The public has a critical role to play in helping us prevent fires before they start by using extreme caution and avoiding any activity that may cause a spark.”

Residents are advised to monitor local media and be ready to evacuate if needed. For more information on how to prepare, visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.

SPANISH VERSION

Las Autoridades Advierten Sobre Fuertes Vientos Durante la Noche y Peligro Extremo de Incendio en el Sur de California Hasta el Viernes

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Con el pronóstico de vientos fuertes durante la noche y condiciones extremas de incendio hasta el viernes en el sur de California, las autoridades de seguridad publicaron una alerta de emergencia en toda la región a las 8:00 P.M. PST miércoles, donde pidieron a los residentes que se mantengan listos, monitoreen las noticias locales y escuchen a las autoridades locales.

La alerta se envió por mensaje de texto a través del sistema Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) a los usuarios de teléfonos celulares en el sur de California:

“Vientos fuertes durante la noche crean peligro de incendio extremo. Manténgase alertos. Escuchen a las autoridades”.

Los mensajes de texto específicamente se enviaron a los residentes en los condados de San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Santa Bárbara, Orange, Ventura y Los Ángeles donde se emitieron advertencias de bandera roja.

La alerta se produjo porque el Servicio Meteorológico Nacional pronostica un evento extremo de viento de Santa Ana que comenzará esta noche, miércoles, con 18 a 24 horas de vientos fuertes de 50 a 80 millas por hora. Los vientos pronosticados, junto con condiciones muy secas, significan que cualquier incendio que comience tendrá una alta probabilidad de rápido crecimiento.

“El centro de operaciones de emergencia del estado está completamente activado y estamos coordinando con todas las agencias estatales para continuar nuestra respuesta a los incendios actuales y colocamos recursos en caso de que surjan nuevos incendios en los próximos días”, dijo Mark Ghilarducci, Director de la Oficina del Gobernador de Servicios de Emergencia.

“Hemos estado trabajando con personal y equipo adicional en el sur de California en los últimos días y nuestros Comandantes de Incidente tienen acceso a una amplia variedad de recursos para combatir los incendios”, dijo el Jefe Ken Pimlott, Director de CAL FIRE. “Pero déjenme ser claro, ninguna cantidad de recursos puede mantenerse con las condiciones previstas. Los bomberos y las agencias de policía priorizarán la vida y seguridad y trabajarán para efectuar las evacuaciones cuando sea necesario. El público tiene un papel fundamental para ayudarnos a prevenir los incendios antes de que comiencen, usando extrema precaución y evitando cualquier actividad que pueda causar una chispa “.

Se recomienda a los residentes que vigilen los medios locales y estén listos para evacuar si es necesario. Para obtener más información sobre cómo prepararse, visite www.ReadyForWildfire.org/Spanish.

3 Comments

  1. Aych-Em

    Absolutely ridiculous mobile alert about recent fires in So Cal.
    What legal precedent made OES conduct such absurdity!?
    Your alert is analogous to informing mountain residents that it will snow in winter.
    There was no need for sending the mobile alert regarding meterological information related to current wind gust and fire events. These are typical patterns seen every few years throughout California.
    Fire potential for all counties has been evident in the past decade due to severe drought, unseasonal weather patterns, and budget cuts for preventive and effective wildland fire management. We see extreme weather reports in the news on a daily basis. So, why repeat what local authorities and politicians have already presented to the public about ‘red flag’ fire potential?
    Let me add that timing is also key to public dissemination of information.
    Why send the alert at night (disrupting sleep for thousands of people NOT in a fire zone) when future weather patterns were already evident by late afternoon?
    The only people to which your text message was directed (when it was sent) were already taking necessary precautions in advance of encroaching fire lines thanks to local police and fire personnel…and local news.
    Here is something OES has no grasp of either; the public is already annoyed by mobile Amber alerts, unsolicited SMS messages, and phishing scams.
    Recent comments from coworkers suggest your recent message was met with much chagrin, bewilderment, and negative reception. Public comments I heard were worse because your texts were seen as very intrusive, unwarranted, and ill-timed.

    Do we need an OES mobile alert system? Of course the answer is ‘YES’.
    But, the system is best when used in conjunction with an early warning system for earthquakes.

    Reply
  2. Kp

    Fires in OC – current update? 1155pm

    Reply
  3. vpz

    thanks share. great post

    Reply

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