LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� Parched Southern California was forecast to face more dangerous winds on Wednesday but could get some needed rain this weekend, dampening prospects of another round of while raising the possibility of challenges like .
Los Angeles officials were preparing for that prospect even as some residents were allowed to return to the devastated Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas and firefighters extinguished during gusty weather expected to last through Thursday.
鈥淲e're going to see another round of critical fire conditions across Southern California,鈥� Todd Hall, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said in an interview Wednesday morning. 鈥淎t this point, it sounds like a broken record.鈥�
Mayor Karen Bass to expedite cleanup efforts in burn areas and mitigate the environmental impacts of fire-related pollutants. She ordered crews to remove vegetation, shore up hillsides, install barriers and reinforce roads ahead of the possible weekend rain, which could create mud and debris flows.
Los Angeles County supervisors also approved an emergency motion to install flood control infrastructure and expedite and remove sediment in fire-impacted areas.
A 60% to 80% chance of a small amount of rain was forecast for Southern California starting Saturday, with most areas likely getting not more than a third of an inch (0.8 centimeters), according to Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist for the weather service鈥檚 office for Los Angeles. However up to an inch (2 1/2 centimeters) could fall in localized thunderstorms, which would be a worst-case scenario if enough flows on scorched hillsides to trigger debris.
鈥淏ut even if the rain doesn鈥檛 materialize this time, it could be a good practice run for those communities because this will be a threat that they鈥檒l have to deal with for months or years,鈥� Kittell said.
Fire crews were filling sandbags for communities.
In 2018, Montecito, a town 80 miles (130 kilometers) up the coast from Los Angeles, was after a downpour hit mountain slopes burned bare by a huge wildfire. Twenty-three people died, and hundreds of homes were damaged.
Winds eased somewhat Tuesday afternoon after peaking at 60 mph (96 kph) in many areas, but gusty conditions were expected to continue. Red flag warnings for critical fire risk were extended through 8 p.m. Thursday in LA and Ventura counties.
鈥淥ur concern is the next fire, the next spark that causes the next wildfire,鈥� said David Acuna, a spokesman with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire. Another worry was that , the , could break their lines as firefighters continue to watch for hot spots.
Fire engines and water-dropping aircraft positioned strategically allowed crews to swiftly douse several small blazes that popped up in LA and San Diego counties, officials said.
Evacuation orders were lifted Tuesday for the Friars Fire, which broke out near a San Diego mall, and partially for the Lilac Fire, which burned through dry brush after threatening some structures, Cal Fire said. Nearby crews fully contained the Pala Fire, another small blaze. The Clay Fire in Riverside was 40% contained Tuesday night and evacuation orders were lifted.
Southern California Edison on Tuesday preemptively shut off power to more than 60,000 customers in five counties to prevent new fires from being sparked by winds toppling electrical equipment; electricity was later restored to most. The utility was considering precautionary shutoffs for an additional 187,000 customers on Wednesday.
Authorities urged residents to review evacuation plans, prepare emergency kits and be on the lookout for fires and report them quickly.
Bass also warned that winds could carry ash and advised Angelenos to visit to learn how to during the latest Santa Ana wind event.
The low humidity, bone-dry vegetation and strong winds came as firefighters continued to battle the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have and destroyed more than 14,000 structures since they broke out Jan. 7. Containment of the Palisades Fire reached 68%, and the Eaton Fire was at 91%.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is investigating the causes of the fires but has not released any findings.
by people who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire, alleging Southern California Edison equipment sparked the blaze. On Tuesday a judge overseeing one of the lawsuits ordered the utility to produce data from circuits in the area where the fire started.
President Donald Trump, who criticized the response to the wildfires during his , has said he will travel to Los Angeles on Friday.
___
Associated Press radio reporter Julie Walker in New York contributed to this report.
Christopher Weber, The Associated Press
