Grounded Aircraft Due to Strong Winds
On Tuesday night, fierce winds forced firefighting aircraft to stay grounded, making it even harder for crews to control the rapidly spreading Palisades fire. The decision to halt aerial support was made just before 8 p.m., and Los Angeles fire officials stated that they would continuously reassess the weather conditions to determine when aircraft could be used again.
The Fire’s Rapid Spread and Growing Threat
The fire began at 10:30 a.m. on Piedra Morada Drive. By early evening, fueled by strong winds, it had already scorched 2,921 acres, forcing more than 30,000 residents to evacuate. The winds, expected to peak between 10 p.m. Tuesday and 5 a.m. Wednesday, posed a major challenge for overnight firefighting efforts. UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain warned, “This event is not over, it will get worse before it improves.”
Intensifying Winds and Low Humidity
Swain predicted that the strongest winds and lowest humidity were still to come. L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone had earlier noted that increasing winds could make aerial firefighting less effective. Governor Gavin Newsom, who visited the fire site, explained that extreme winds would scatter water or retardant dropped from aircraft, rendering these efforts useless. He said, “We could be up there all day, but it won’t help.”
Concerns Over New Fires Breaking Out
The combination of strong winds and extremely low humidity raised fears of new fires starting overnight. Governor Newsom expressed concern, saying, “We’re hoping we’re wrong, but we’re expecting more fires.” He added that resources were being strategically placed in high-risk areas. Swain agreed, predicting that additional fires were likely.
New Fires Erupt in Pasadena and Altadena
By 6:30 p.m., a new fire broke out in the foothills of Pasadena, quickly growing to 20 acres. Another fire started near Eaton Canyon in Altadena, burning around 400 acres by 8:14 p.m. Both fires prompted evacuations, and air support was suspended due to the strong winds.
The Palisades Fire Threatens Homes and Businesses
While the Palisades fire continued to rage, threatening thousands of homes and businesses, crews worked to protect key sites like the Getty Villa and Palisades Charter High School. The famous Reel Inn seafood restaurant in Malibu appeared to have burned down in the fire.
National Weather Service Issues Severe Warning
The National Weather Service issued a warning that this windstorm would be one of the most destructive to hit Los Angeles since 2011. They issued a “particularly dangerous situation” warning for extreme fire danger across large parts of Los Angeles and eastern Ventura counties before the Palisades fire even ignited. The warning is set to expire on Thursday.
Ongoing Fire Danger Through the Week
Though the worst of the winds were expected Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, fire danger would remain high throughout the week. Swain explained that as the winds continued, the vegetation would become drier, which would increase the fire risk later in the week. “The winds will be strongest at the beginning, but the vegetation will be driest towards the end, so the fire risk will stay high for a long time,” he said.
Weather Patterns and the Increased Fire Danger
Recent weather patterns have worsened the fire risk, according to Alex Hall, director of the UCLA Center for Climate Science. “Southern California had a very hot summer, with little rain during what should have been the wet season,” he said. “This, combined with two very rainy years before, means there’s plenty of fuel for wildfires.”
Climate Change and Year-Round Fire Risk
Swain added that while climate change hasn’t directly increased the likelihood of extreme winds, it has contributed to more frequent overlaps between wind events and dry conditions during the wet season. Governor Newsom agreed, emphasizing that fire risk is no longer seasonal. “We’ve had fires in November, December, and now January,” he said. “There’s no fire season anymore—it’s a fire year, all year round.”
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