The National Weather Service says strong ... hot ... dry Santa Ana winds will continue through Wednesday evening. Winds should get a bit weaker this evening before gaining strength again overnight. Those conditions make firefighting very difficult. KPBS reporter Andrew Phelps has details.
San Diego County Supervisor Ron Roberts represents some parts of the county on fire. He says weather is the biggest threat to firefighters.
Roberts : We have some of the highest temperatures, some of the driest landscape conditions, and some of the most powerful winds. All of the ingredients for a perfect firestorm.
The Santa Ana wind event began Sunday morning. The wildfires followed soon after. Santa Ana's are dangerous because they push the flames so fast. Hurricane-force winds can carry embers far ahead of the fire, which starts new fires. The winds are also erratic and unpredictable ... Blowing west one minute and east the next. That makes things both confusing and dangerous for firefighters on the ground.
Again, Ron Roberts.
Roberts : We've got a long way to go. And we have major problems right now. We're not at the end of this.
Roberts says firefighters won't get relief until the winds settle down.
Andrew Phelps, KPBS News.
