United States: Wildfires leave at least one dead, thousands without power Dec. 9 /update 7

Event

The ongoing six wildfires in Southern California have left at least one person dead and have resulted in widespread power outages as of Saturday, December 9. The fires have also left at least five people injured in San Diego County, and had burned roughly 650 sq km (250 sq mi) in Southern California as of Friday, December 8. Widespread power outages have affected thousands of people in the region; some 20,000 people in northern San Diego are without power as of Saturday, as well as at least 4300 others near the Thomas fire, in Sylmar near the Creek fire, and in Santa Clarita near the Rye fire. Traffic disruptions and school closures are expected to persist in the affected areas in the coming days. US President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency for California on Friday, and directed federal agencies to allocate and coordinate resources and relief efforts in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, and Ventura counties. The fires - which have been contained to varying degrees - are expected to continue to burn in Southern California in the coming days.

Red flag warnings for fires are currently in effect for much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties through Sunday, December 10, and in Orange and San Diego counties and parts of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. 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.