United States: California wildfires partially contained Dec. 11 /update 9

Event

The ongoing wildfires in Southern California have left at least one person dead and several people injured as of 19:00 (local time) on Monday, December 11. The fires have burned roughly 1050 sq km (400 sq mi), destroying over 1000 buildings. Traffic disruptions, power outages, and school closures are expected to persist in the affected areas in the coming days. The fires - which have been contained to varying degrees - are expected to continue to burn for several more days.

Red flag warnings for fires are currently in effect for much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties through at least Wednesday, December 13. Fires located in Santa Barbara, San Diego, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties have been partially contained, but remain on alert. Up-to-date information can be found on the website of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and on Ventura County's website.

Context

On December 4, wildfires broke out and rapidly spread in Southern California as a result of strong Santa Ana winds in the region. According to officials, the flames broke out east of Santa Paula, approximately 95 km (60 mi) northwest of Los Angeles. Over 200,000 people have been evacuated from fire-threatened areas in the state.

Southern California generally experiences its worst wildfires between October and December, due to the increased strength of the Santa Ana winds. Rugged terrain and dry conditions - which have been exacerbated by years of drought - render it particularly difficult to contain fires in the region once they have broken out.

Advice

Individuals are advised to exercise caution when traveling in areas affected by the wildfires, to adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities (e.g. evacuation orders), and to monitor developments to the situation. Individuals should anticipate transportation disruptions throughout the area.