The Hills Are Burning, and the Wind Is Still Blowing

There is a particular season in Southern California when the winds arrive from the desert, dry and restless, and the hillsides become something closer to kindling than landscape. This week, that season arrived with force, and the fires came with it.

Multiple brush fires erupted across Los Angeles and Orange counties as the first significant Santa Ana wind event of the fall swept through the region. In Malibu, the Bryson Fire grew rapidly near Encinal Canyon Road and Mulholland Highway, prompting evacuation orders and warnings across a wide swath of the Santa Monica Mountains . In Orange County, the Norte Fire broke out shortly after 11:30 a.m. Friday near San Clemente and quickly spread into San Juan Capistrano, growing to 465 acres with zero percent containment. At least five homes were burning, and evacuation orders were issued for several zones .

Red Flag Warnings remained in effect through Saturday evening for portions of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, including the Santa Monica Mountains, San Gabriel Mountains, and the Interstate 5 corridor. High Wind Warnings covered the western Santa Monica Mountains and San Gabriel Mountains, with northeast winds of 25 to 45 mph expected. The Santa Ana Mountains and foothills faced similar warnings through noon Saturday .

The human response was immediate and extensive. Capistrano Unified School District dismissed nine schools early and canceled all after-school programs. Evacuation shelters were established at the San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente community centers . Governor Gavin Newsom had directed CAL FIRE and Cal OES to preposition firefighting resources across Southern California in advance of the wind event, placing the State Operations Center into enhanced readiness . Southern California Edison reported that more than 167,000 customers were without power as of Friday, with additional Public Safety Power Shutoffs possible .

“The most critical fire weather will be seen through Friday afternoon, when the strongest and longest-lasting winds are expected,” said Kevin McGowan, director of the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management. “Strong winds and very dry conditions will continue to cause fire starts to spread rapidly, so we’re urging everyone to remain vigilant” .

The fires are a reminder of what this region has always known: that beauty and danger share the same hills, and that the wind, when it comes, does not ask permission. The evacuations continue. The winds are expected to taper by Saturday evening. For now, the hills are burning, and the communities below are watching.

AI Image Disclaimer: Visual content accompanying this article is generated by artificial intelligence and does not depict the actual fires or evacuations.

Sources: ABC7 Los Angeles, Governor of California, The Weather Channel, NBC Los Angeles, Malibu City website