Two new wildfires started in San Diego County, California, as strong Santa Ana winds picked up on Tuesday. Evacuation orders were issued for the Lilac Fire, which has already burned about 50 acres (20 hectares). The fire is spreading quickly, and homes are at risk.
Firefighters have made good progress on another blaze called the Pala Fire, and it’s currently under control. The weather service is warning of a “very dangerous situation” in parts of Los Angeles, Ventura, and San Diego counties from Monday afternoon to Tuesday morning. The low humidity and strong winds make it easy for fires to grow rapidly.
This new threat comes just two weeks after major wildfires in Los Angeles that left at least 27 people dead and destroyed over 10,000 buildings in areas like Pacific Palisades and Altadena. Officials are worried about existing fires, particularly the Palisades and Eaton Fires, getting out of control.
David Acuna, a spokesperson for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, urged people not to start any new fires so firefighters can focus on putting out the existing ones.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff visited Los Angeles on Monday. They met with firefighters and people affected by the Eaton Fire in Altadena. “We just came out to thank (the firefighters) and the community… we’re all in this together,” Harris said, adding that their home in Pacific Palisades is safe.
Meanwhile, President Trump, who criticized the wildfire response in his inaugural speech, plans to visit Los Angeles on Friday.
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