LA braces for life-threatening windstorm as wildfire explodes to 200 acres

LOS ANGELES – A growing wildfire west of Los Angeles is causing concern amid dire warnings for the Los Angeles area after forecasters say there is the potential for the strongest wind event in more than a decade.A live camera from the state’s Alert California network shows billowing smoke from a burning hillside near the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in the Santa Monica Mountains.According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the wind-driven fire quickly exploded to 200 acres within an hour of starting.Evacuations are underway and residents near the fire are being told to “leave now.”An extreme wildfire threat covers much of Southern California through Wednesday as a “life-threatening, destructive, widespread windstorm” is expected Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning, Los Angeles forecasters at the National Weather Service said.Damaging winds are expected across most of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, leading to widespread power outages.“Strong winds are coming,” the NWS said.“This is a Particularly Dangerous Situation – in other words, this is about as bad as it gets in terms of fire weather.

Stay aware of your surroundings.Be ready to evacuate, especially if in a high fire risk area.

Be careful with fire sources.”Already gusts reached 66 mph at Burbank’s Bob Hope International Airport, and a gust to 63 mph in Malibu by late Tuesday morning. The strongest winds will blow through Southern California from Tuesday evening through Wednesday afternoon, with gusts peaking near 80 mph.Isolated areas in the mountains and foothills will see gusts of 80-100 mph.All Malibu schools are closed on Tuesday due to dangerous weather conditions.

At the last check, Santa Monica schools were still open.Flights going in and out of Los Angeles International Airport can expect delays as forecasters warn of “quite dangerous” mountain waves for pilots.Airlines and pilots are being urged not to fly near terrain during the windstorm.The...