Los Angeles faces new Santa Ana wind threat

Southern California faces another round of strong Santa Ana winds, raising concerns of increased wildfire risks just weeks after devastating blazes that killed at least 27 people and destroyed nearly 10,000 structures. The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings for Los Angeles and Ventura counties, predicting wind gusts between 50 and 80 mph. Fire officials are pre-deploying resources and urging residents to prepare for evacuation as the critical fire weather is expected to persist. The two largest recent fires, the Eaton and Palisades fires, have consumed nearly 40,000 acres but are now more than half contained. Governor Gavin Newsom described the current wind conditions as unprecedented, highlighting that this is the fourth major wind event in recent months. Investigations into the causes of the fires continue as weary residents brace for the upcoming weather challenges.