Risk of Wildfire Remains in Southern California

Tim Hammerich

News Reporter

Even though we are into December now, the threat of wildfires in Southern California is still very real. Here with more is US Department of Agriculture Meteorologist Brad Rippey.

Rippey… “Now the overall threat for Southern California remains quite critical. So any ignition could turn into a very dangerous wildfire within a matter of minutes. And we've got several more days to get through before more favorable weather returns.”

Rippey says there may be better weather coming, but for now, the situation is still very dangerous.

Rippey… “At least through the middle of the week, we're going to be dealing with wind gusts that in some of the passes and canyons could reach 60 to 75 miles per hour or more. It's accompanied by very low humidity levels and ample cured fuels, which means a lot of brush and grass is dried out.”

With the abundance of dry fuel, the hope for all Southern California residents is to keep any ignitions from occurring.

Rippey… “I haven't seen much, if any rain in Southern California, you have to season. So the overall situation remains quite critical. If we can just keep the ignitions from happening, there's a chance that we could get to a better place by the end of the week, when we expect lower temperatures, higher humidity levels, and lighter winds.”

This is happening on the heels of a wildfire season that burned over 4 million acres. One that everyone in California is eager to put behind us.