KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
Red flag warnings make for explosive fire growth potential.
While significant progress has been made in fighting the
Marek and Sesnon fires, a Red Flag Alert is still in force in Santa Clarita.
With high winds and dry brush, we’re as ready as ever for another disastrous
fire season much like we experienced in 2007.
A red flag warning continues for Ventura
County and portions of Northern
Los Angeles County
through 10 p.m. Wednesday evening for
strong Northeast winds and low humidities. High pressure over the great basin
will continue to generate offshore flow with very warm and dry conditions
through the week.
Although winds have diminished somewhat in intensity, there
will still be some wind gusts between 50 and 60 MPH below and through the
mountain passes and canyons in the early afternoon hours. A red flag warning
means that critical fire weather conditions are occurring now – a combination
of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures with create the
potential for explosive fire growth.
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With the origin of the Marek fire deemed “suspicious” and
the Sesnon fire cause undetermined, it’s important that all of us remain
vigilant and work as a team with law enforcement and fire officials to keep our
community safe and fire-free.
Here are some suggestions from Captain Ross Bonfiglio of the
Ventura County Sheriff’s Department on being observant and reporting suspicious
activity during this volatile season.
California
wildfires pose a year-round threat to lives and property. It is
everyone’s responsibility to do his or her part in helping to mitigate the
death and destruction these fires cause. As we enter a particularly
volatile time of year for wildfires, it is important that the public be extra
vigilant in looking for suspicious activity related to arson.
Arson is an extremely serious offense that can result in the loss of life as
well as millions of dollars in property.
If you see suspicious activity, it is important to realize that specific
details often quickly fade from memory. Suspect and vehicle descriptions
should be written down quickly. Camera phones (when safe to use) are
another way to possibly document what is taking place. In addition to
license plates and generic vehicle and suspect descriptions, law enforcement is
helped tremendously when unique characteristics of a person or vehicle are
noted.
Other things to look for related to arson activity are individuals loitering
and vehicles parked in areas where they don’t belong, particularly if there is
a lot of fuel (dry grass, brush, etc.) in the area. Your awareness should
be increased whenever Santa Ana
conditions exist or you become aware of a Red Flag Warning.
If any activity appears to be an arson in-progress, call 9-1-1. For non-emergency reporting,
call the Santa Clarita Sheriff’s station at (661) 255-1121.
