High Winds, Significant Fire Risk - October 15th - 16th, 2026

Los Angeles County Public Safety Agencies Urge Residents to Prepare for High Winds, Significant Fire Risk

Red Flag Warning and Santa Ana winds combine to increase risks through Saturday

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Fire Department, Sheriff’s Department and Office of Emergency Management are alerting the public to higher fire risk as the County prepares for strong Santa Ana winds and dangerous fire weather forecast for Thursday, October 15, through Friday night, October 16.

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for much of Los Angeles County from Thursday through Friday night. Very low humidity and strong winds will create conditions capable of producing rapid fire spread and extreme fire behavior if a fire starts. Gusts of 50 to 70 miles per hour are forecast in mountain areas, with widespread gusty winds across many valleys and coastal communities. Critical conditions could linger into Saturday.

Residents should also prepare for utility-initiated Public Safety Power Shutoffs and unplanned outages caused by wind damage. Outages can disrupt communications, traffic signals and electrically powered medical equipment. Hot weather will add to these risks, with a Heat Advisory in effect for portions of the County Thursday through Saturday. More information on cooling centers and resources can be found at ready.lacounty.gov/heat/.

County preparedness and coordination

The Fire Department has implemented augmented staffing and is pre-positioning additional ground and aerial resources. OEM’s 24-hour Watch Center is continuously monitoring conditions and coordinating with response partners.

The County’s Emergency Operations Center and the Joint Information Center will activate beginning Thursday morning. These activations will support coordination among County departments and response partners and the distribution of timely, consistent public information.

“Ahead of the high fire danger, the County of Los Angeles Fire Department has pre-positioned additional personnel along with ground and aerial resources across Los Angeles County,” said Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone. “With strong winds capable of driving rapid wildfire growth, we urge residents to prepare immediately. Review the Ready! Set! Go! program, identify your evacuation zone, and be prepared to evacuate without delay.”

“As Los Angeles County prepares for the upcoming Red Flag Warning, the safety of our communities and our personnel remains our highest priority,” said Sheriff Robert Luna. “The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is taking proactive steps to ensure we are prepared to respond quickly and effectively to any emergencies that may arise. Through heightened monitoring, close coordination with our law enforcement partners throughout the region, and strategic staffing, we are ensuring our personnel and resources are prepared to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies. We urge residents to remain vigilant, stay informed, have an emergency plan, and follow the guidance of public safety officials. Preparedness and collaboration are essential to keeping our communities safe.”

“The January 2025 wildfires underscored the importance of early coordination, clear public information and planning for people who need additional assistance,” said Kevin McGowan, Director of the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management. “We are activating the EOC and Joint Information Center ahead of the forecast’s peak winds to support those priorities. Our responsibility is to coordinate the County’s response and provide actionable information. Residents can help protect themselves and their neighbors by preparing now, staying informed, and being ready to evacuate.”

What residents should do now

• Know your zone and evacuation plan. Find your evacuation zone at protect.genasys.com or by downloading the Genasys mobile app. Identify more than one route out of your neighborhood, a place to go and transportation for everyone in your household. Include pets and service animals. Keep your vehicle fueled or charged and know how to open your garage door during a power outage. Residents in a high-risk fire zone should have supplies, including water and daily medication, and important personal items, packed and ready to go.
• Understand evacuation instructions. An evacuation warning means there is a potential threat to life or property: prepare to leave. People who need extra time or assistance, and those evacuating large animals, should leave when a warning is issued. An evacuation order means there is an immediate threat: leave immediately. If you feel unsafe or see a fire threatening your area, do not wait for an official alert to leave.
• Use more than one source of information. Register for Alert LA County and your city’s emergency notification system. Enable Wireless Emergency Alerts on your phone, keep devices and backup batteries charged, and keep alert sounds audible overnight. Third-party resources such as Watch Duty can also be reliable sources of information in the event of an emergency and also provide critical updates in the event of a fire. Have a battery-powered radio available in case electricity, cellular service or internet access is disrupted. Check lacounty.gov/emergency for incident information and evacuation updates.
• Plan for assistance and medical needs. Older adults, people with disabilities and anyone who needs help evacuating should coordinate now with family, caregivers or neighbors. Pack medications, essential documents, medical supplies and mobility aids. If you rely on electrically powered medical equipment or refrigerated medication, discuss a backup plan with your provider before an outage occurs.
• Prepare for power outages. Sign up for your utility’s outage and Public Safety Power Shutoff notifications. Have flashlights, batteries, drinking water and essential supplies ready. Use generators outdoors, away from doors and windows, and never indoors or in a garage. Stay away from downed power lines and call 911 to report an immediate hazard.
• Have your Ready! Set! Go! Wildfire Action Plan in place. Avoid activities that could produce sparks near dry vegetation during critical fire weather. Follow local fire restrictions, secure loose outdoor items and review the Fire Department’s Ready! Set! Go! program for additional guidance.
• Please refrain from parking on narrow roads, sharp curves, hairpin turns, and key intersection areas where parked vehicles can block access for emergency responders and trap residents during an evacuation. 

For preparedness information, visit ready.lacounty.gov. Follow @ReadyLACounty, @LACoFDPIO and @LASDHQ for official updates. Call 211 for preparedness resources and referrals, including information for people with disabilities and other access and functional needs. Call 911 for an immediate threat to life or safety.