Blaze in Ventura County underscores threat of new fires

The charred wrecks of cars burnt by the Eaton fire on a residential street in Altadena, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. A rare warning of “particularly dangerous” fire weather went into effect on Tuesday morning in parts of Southern California, where heavy winds were creating conditions for new fires even as firefighters battle the most destructive blazes in state history. (Philip Cheung/The New York Times)

By Sam Stanton, Claire Moses and Patricia Mazzei

Firefighters in Ventura County battled a fresh brush fire in the Santa Clara river bottom Tuesday as stronger winds threatened to ignite more blazes across parts of Southern California. The new fire ignited as some of the most destructive fires in the state’s history continued to burn through brush and the remains of scorched neighborhoods.

With the strongest gusts from the latest round of Santa Ana winds expected Tuesday night, officials in Los Angeles County urged residents to prepare for power outages and to be ready to flee. “Get set to leave early if you receive an evacuation order or warning,” Anthony C. Marrone, the county’s fire chief, said at a news conference.

The ominous forecast comes after a week in which high winds and dry conditions fueled fires that have killed at least 24 people and left about two dozen others missing. More than 100,000 people have been displaced and whole neighborhoods destroyed.

— Containment updates: The largest blaze in Los Angeles County, the Palisades fire, was larger than 23,000 acres but only 17% contained Tuesday, up from 14%. The Eaton fire covered more than 14,000 acres and was only 35% contained, up from 33%. There were no reports of new homes or major structures burning in either fire.

— A new fire: By Tuesday morning, firefighters in Ventura County, northwest of the city, had contained the Auto fire, which had grown to more than 50 acres Monday night within hours of igniting in a riverbed with overgrown brush. But fire officials worried about the fire breaking free again in windy conditions.

— Forecast: The National Weather Service issued an exceptionally rare red-flag warning for Los Angeles and Ventura counties. “Particularly dangerous” conditions, including wind gusts of 45 to 70 mph and very low humidity, could lead to “explosive fire growth” Tuesday, it said.

— Evacuation zone: Police turned away hundreds of people who were trying to enter the evacuation zone for the Palisades fire Monday. That fire has leveled hundreds of homes in an area northwest of downtown Los Angeles and killed at least eight people.

— Housing crisis: The fires have exacerbated a housing crisis in Los Angeles. On Monday night, Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order to expedite permitting for rebuilding after the fires and to fast-track approval of temporary housing for displaced families. Hundreds of schoolteachers were among those who lost their homes.