Wildfire Rages in Forest Outside of Los Angeles, Residents Evacuated (VIDEO)

Driest year in California's recorded history and notorious Santa Ana winds create a recipe for an early fire season - a VERY early fire season.

From the Source:

"GLENDORA, Calif. » Homes burned in a wildfire threatening neighborhoods in dangerously dry foothills of Southern California's San Gabriel Mountains today, fanned by gusty Santa Ana winds that spit embers into the city below. Residents who awakened in the pre-dawn darkness to see flames approaching were ordered to evacuate.

Television images showed several structures engulfed in flames in a neighborhood abutting Angeles National Forest, just north of the San Gabriel Valley community of Glendora. Homes are nestled in canyons and among rugged ridges that made an accurate assessment difficult.

At least 2 1/2 square miles of dry brush were charred in the wilderness area about 25 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles...

The notorious Santa Anas, linked to the spread of Southern California's worst wildfires, picked up at daybreak. The extremely dry Santa Anas blow downslope and can push fires out of the mountains and into communities below. The area, which has been historically dry, has been buffeted by the winds which have raised temperatures into the 80s. The Santa Anas typically begin in the fall and last through winter into spring. A wet winter reduces fire risk, but the whole state is experiencing historically dry conditions."

Above: "A wildfire burned in the hills just north of the San Gabriel Valley community of Glendora, Calif. today. Southern California authorities have ordered the evacuation of homes at the edge of a fast-moving wildfire burning in the dangerously dry foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains." - Associated Press

Public Input Sought for West Maui Community Wildfire Protection Plan

The buzz for the West Maui Community Wildfire Protection Plan community meetings this month keeps building!

From the Source:

"Lance De Silva, Maui forest management supervisor with the state Department of Land & Natural Resources' Division of Forestry and Wildlife, emphasized that a CWPP isn't just another federal study.

'A CWPP is a community-based 'roots' process to outline wildfire risks to a community and to catalyze projects that can reduce those risks. In West Maui, we need to reduce our risks from mauka to makai. This is an important opportunity for communities to have a say over the priorities in the plan and to seek funds for the wildfire mitigation projects that residents themselves identify. Invest your time to protect your investments.'

Elizabeth Pickett, Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization executive director, said 'CWPPs are meant to tie into existing or planned projects. Many communities are developing disaster plans or long-range community plans, and the CWPP is meant to complement those plans.

'It will be a useful tool for community members to help make West Maui's neighborhoods and natural areas fire-safe. Wildfires tie into many natural resource, municipal and community issues, so this is an important opportunity for communities to learn, have their voices heard and get involved.'"

Warm Weather, Low Humidity Raise Wildfire Risk in San Diego County

Extreme summer-like winter conditions in Southern California are extending the fire season. Article demonstrates a good example of the conditions that create extreme fire behavior:

From the Source:

"'A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, above normal temperatures and very low fuel moisture will contribute to extreme fire behavior,' the NWS said."

"NWS forecasters said the lack of rainfall this winter had further dried vegetation well beyond what was normal for this time of year in many areas."

"This National Weather Service map shows in pink the areas under a red flag warning beginning Monday, Jan. 13, 2014." - Courtesy of KPBS

Record Driest Year in California, Parts of Oregon

California is experiencing unusual winter fires given the driest conditions the region has experienced in its recorded history - normally wet areas like Big Sur, for example, are ablaze. These conditions aren't unique to California, as Hawaii has experienced record-breaking drought conditions over the last few years, spurring an increase in the frequency, size, and severity of fires across all of the islands. 

From the Source:

“California and parts of western Oregon witnessed their driest year on record in 2013, according to statistics from the National Weather Service (NWS)...

A critical season looms for the nation's most populous state, struggling through its third straight dry winter.

The culprit for this dearth of rain and mountain snow is a persistent ridge of high pressure aloft over the eastern north Pacific Ocean, which has diverted the jet stream, and hence, the storm track, well to the north into Canada. 

The few storm systems that have penetrated the West Coast recently have tended to drop south out of western Canada as relatively moisture-starved systems, rather than sweeping in ashore from west to east, tapping deeper moisture. 

Are there any signs of the pattern turning wetter? In a word, 'no'."

Article link no longer exists.

Above: "Drought status of the western U.S. as of Dec. 24, 2013. Areas of worse drought are indicated by the progressively more tan/brown contours. (NOAA/USDA/NDMC)."