High wind warnings persisted through Tuesday, as the seasonal Santa Ana winds whipped across Southern California, fueling wildfires that threatened hundreds of homes in Malibu and beyond.
Since the weekend, the winds have been linked to at least two deaths, along with extensive damage, including downed trees, power outages, and the destruction of dozens of large vehicles. Firefighters scrambled to contain fires stretching across thousands of acres, including one fire in the Santa Monica Mountains that burned through 2,200 acres by Tuesday afternoon.
In Malibu, the fire forced the evacuation of residents in several neighborhoods, damaging at least three homes, with more than 700 firefighters working to control the blaze. By Tuesday morning, the fire was only 10% contained, and officials warned that full control would likely take until the end of the day, as winds were expected to subside.
Farther east, near Norco, another blaze ignited by gusty winds scorched 150 acres and damaged five homes. Another fire, burning in the rugged terrain of Catalina Island, had spread over 110 acres by Tuesday.
The winds, gusting between 20 and 30 mph in the canyons and reaching up to 60 mph on the ridges, made firefighting efforts even more difficult. Meteorologists predicted that the worst of the winds would die down by the evening, offering some respite for first responders.
As of Tuesday morning, authorities had ordered mandatory evacuations for the Encinal and Decker Canyons in Malibu, affecting around 100 residents. Investigations were underway to determine the exact cause of the fire, though officials suspected a downed power line might have triggered the blaze. In Norco, a woman was arrested on suspicion of arson related to that fire.
In San Diego, a woman was killed by a falling tree in the Old Town district, and on Sunday, wind-blown debris struck a car in Riverside, claiming the life of a passenger.
Power outages have been widespread, with Southern California Edison reporting that nearly 730,000 customers had lost electricity over the past two days. More than 3,000 homes and businesses were still without power, and some areas may not see their service restored for days.
In Los Angeles, a downed power line caused a fire that destroyed a house and three vehicles. In Yorba Linda, a historic pepper tree planted by the father of former President Richard Nixon suffered significant damage, though it is expected to survive.
These devastating winds are characteristic of the Santa Ana phenomenon, which typically sweeps across Southern California between September and February. In 1993, a similar event resulted in the destruction of thousands of acres, the deaths of three people, and the loss of 1,000 buildings in Malibu, Laguna Beach, and Altadena.
