SAN DIEGO, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Southern California was under a red-flag fire alert at least through Tuesday due to arid winds that howled through the region.
The National Weather Service said Monday that Santa Ana winds coupled with high temperatures and very low humidity added up to the potential for “explosive growth” of brush fires.
Wind gusts around 35 miles per hour were predicted in many areas with canyons and mountain passes potentially seeing gusts up to 85 miles per hour. Truckers and other motorists were warned to beware of gusty winds and blowing sand and dust that could quickly blot out visibility.
The huge fires burning from Malibu south to San Diego were also generating enormous walls of smoke that posed a threat to folks with breathing disorders. The Environmental Protection Agency in San Francisco issued an advisory for people to keep their windows closed and use their air conditioning. They were also urged not to smoke inside a closed-up home or stir up dust by running their vacuum cleaners.
