Santa Ana Winds Fuel Wildfires Across Southern California, Forcing Evacuations
As predicted earlier in the week, a major Santa Ana event has fueled a series of wildfires across Southern California. Here is the latest on this dangerous situation that has forced evacuations and cut off power to thousands.
Santa Ana Winds Support Development of Wildfires in Southern California
Potent Santa Ana winds are pairing with high temperatures and low humidity levels to create dangerous fire conditions across a large swath of Southern California. Several fires have ignited over the last several hours, with forecasters warning that this threat will persist through the weekend.
The Bryson Fire was first reported at about 5 pm Thursday near Malibu's Encinal Canyon Road. According to CAL FIRE, the fire has burned nearly 200 acres with 17% containment as of Friday afternoon. The dry vegetation that makes up the landscape of this area near the Santa Monica Mountains is serving as tinder for the flames.
Thick plumes of smoke have been seen rising over the community of Malibu as the Bryson Fire expands. The fire prompted mandatory evacuations in some parts of Encinal Canyon, with several other communities put under evacuation warnings. A juvenile detention center in Los Angeles was also evacuated as the fire grew closer.
There are over 285 firefighters on the scene of the Bryson Fire, hoping to keep the strengthening winds from sending the flames farther. The Bryson Fire is burning about 20 miles west of where the deadly Palisades Fire erupted in January of 2025.
The Associated Press confirmed that over 160,000 customers were left without power on Friday as local utility companies triggered preventive shutoffs.
Elsewhere in Southern California
The Bryson Fire is not the only blaze that has been blamed on the Santa Ana winds. The Peak Fire is burning roughly 40 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Driven by the onset of the high winds, this fire ignited in Azusa near San Gabriel Canyon Road.
CAL FIRE notes that the Peak Fire has burned over 40 acres and was 41% contained as of Friday morning. Crews are making some progress getting this fire under control, resulting in the evacuation orders being lifted.
Moving to the south, the Henderson Fire has burned over 2,000 acres at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County. This fire burning near the sprawling Marine Corps base prompted evacuations in and around Las Flores. The California Highway Patrol was forced to close a portion of Interstate 5, the major highway that connects San Diego to Los Angeles. The evacuation orders and highway closures were reversed later Thursday when crews got a better handle on the situation.
The forecast of unseasonably warm weather and high winds will keep the danger of wildfires in the picture through the weekend. Forecasters are warning that gusts could hit 80 mph in some parts of the region as the Santa Ana winds whip down from the mountains and toward the coast. All it takes is one high gust to send the flames traveling across great distances, spurred on by the dry landscape.
Temperatures are expected to climb into the 90s for much of Southern California through the weekend. Even the typically moderate temperatures in the beach communities will be replaced with temperatures well over the norm for the middle of October. For instance, Long Beach was forecast to see a high of about 97 degrees on Friday. The mercury will make it to the 90-degree mark on Saturday before sliding slightly on Sunday.
Local authorities are advising residents to enable all smartphone weather notifications and be ready to evacuate if the call comes.
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