A small brush fire was reported and contained Sunday, Sept. 25 amidst the current red flag warning, according to LA County Fire officials, but dust and smoke could continue to affect air quality throughout the week.

Santa Clarita Valley residents became concerned Sunday, when strong gusts of wind blowing up to 18 mph threw dust into huge clouds and appeared as if there was smoke in the valley. However, a small brush fire did begin at approximately 1:23 p.m., near the Highway 14 freeway and went on to cover a small patch of two acres.

The small fire only began as the result of an old burn within the Sand Fire area, and presented no threat to structures or residents, but it is fair for residents to react as they did after the summer’s Sand Fire burned more than 41,000 acres.

A wind advisory warning and a red flag warning do remain in effect by the U.S. National Weather Service until 3 p.m. as northeast winds will continue to grow to 20 to 30 mph today and 10 to 20 mph tonight and tomorrow. Breathing conditions remain fair, but anyone with breathing or asthma problems should be prepared for extra dust and pollen.

While these winds and a low relative humidity combined with a steady heat result in continuous fire weather, weather officials state that today’s winds will be the last of the strongest.

Fire officials urge members of the community to continue to remain careful and be prepared as this year’s fire season slowly begins to taper off to a close.