Several homes burning in Bel-Air as fire closes the 405 Freeway and forces evacuations

[Right_in_Virginia]

Several homes burning in Bel-Air as fire closes the 405 Freeway and forces evacuations
LA Times. Dec 6, 2017

Several homes in Los Angeles’ Bel-Air neighborhood were burning Wednesday morning as a wind-driven wildfire prompted a full closure of the 405 Freeway as well as mandatory evacuations in an area of multimillion-dollar homes.

The Skirball fire was estimated to cover about 50 acres by 8 a.m., but Los Angeles fire officials said it was being fueled by 25 mph winds and would likely grow.

Ash and smoke swirled in the sky as dozens of firefighters fought flames atop hills adjacent to the 405. Television news video showed multiple homes in flames.

“It’s been years since anything here has burned at all,” said Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Cody Weireter. “You’ve got heavy, heavy brush, you’ve got the dryness — obviously, we haven’t had any rain at all. A lot of the fire is topography-driven, which already becomes dangerous. The wind is going to increase that twofold.”


More: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-brentwood-fire-20171206-story.html

[Right_in_Virginia]

Wind is the culprit in 2017's horrific wildfire season
LA Times, Dec 6, 2017, By Bettina Boxall

The Thomas fire started in a known wind corridor on the first day of dry Santa Ana winds that are expected to buffet Southern California for nearly a week. What’s more, it has been a good eight months since a decent rainfall soaked the chaparral hillsides.

“Fires will spread very rapidly in these conditions and basically will be uncontrollable,” Rolinski said.

The blaze was the latest in a series of wildfires that are searing 2017 into the state’s record books. They all have had one thing in common — winds that quickly turn a fire into an inferno.  More than drought or heat, winds can determine whether California burns or doesn’t.

October’s devastating Northern California wildfires exploded on a night when Diablo winds raged across parts of eight counties, tossing embers into Santa Rosa and ultimately claiming 44 lives.


More: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-me-fire-santa-ana-wind-20171206-story.html

[austingirl]

Dreadful.

[Suppressed]

Morning commute...

http://i.imgur.com/2Bimr1W.mp4

[Gefn]

Dreadful.

Agreed. Some lovely homes in Bel Air

[Frank Cannon]

Donny should send FEMA trailers in for all these displaced Libs.

[Right_in_Virginia]