The Los Angeles County Fire Department has announced that there will be a Red Flag Warning in effect in the Santa Monica Mountains from 10:00 a.m. on Monday, December 9th through 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 11th. This wind event will be what the NWS considers a Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS), with extremely high winds and low relative humidities throughout the county. This is a major fire weather event, and any new fires in the Red Flag Warning area will have rapid fire spread, extreme fire behavior, and long-range spotting in the Santa Monica Mountains region. Fire and Sheriff have additional staffing in place, ready for deployment, if needed.
As fire season is now year-round, it is important that every resident of the City of Hidden Hills stay vigilant.
Hidden Hills Activities to Avoid During Windy, Dry, Red Flag Days
- Do not use power tools, mowers or any equipment (gas or electric) that may create a spark. Please remind your workers not to use them as well.
- Do not smoke outdoors.
- Do not light anything flammable outside or turn on outdoor fire-pits.
- Do not operate outdoor kitchen stoves, ovens, pizza ovens or BBQs (especially charcoal or wood models, but also gas or propane).
- Avoid hosting large outdoor events with extensive lighting and equipment.
Here are Some Tips to Prepare for a Wildfire in LA County
- Protect yourself using the LA County Fire Department’s Ready! Set! Go! Personal Wildfire Action Plan.
- Prepare your family and home in case of evacuation.
- Keep a working fire extinguisher on hand in an easily accessible location and train your family on how to use it.
- Install smoke alarms on each level of your home, and be sure to check them regularly.
- Create defensible space and harden your home against the possibility of flying embers. Walk around the outside of your home and make sure movable objects have been brought inside, secured to the ground, or are in safe places. Think of things like patio furniture, umbrellas, unlatched gates, basketball hoops, sports nets, etc.
- Take extra time to inspect trees on and around your property. Look for loose branches and trees that should be trimmed back away from structures. For more vegetation and brush clearance tips, click here.
- Don’t forget to re-sign up for a good old-fashioned AT&T hardwired landline service. When cell and internet communications get knocked out, landlines still work.
Helpful contacts:
- LA County Fire Department
- LA County Department of Public Works
- California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
- Home safety tips: smoke alarms, fire extinguisher classification, burn prevention, etc.
Southern California Edison may activate a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) within LA County. For detailed updates on Public Safety Power Shutoffs, please visit https://www.sce.com/safety/wildfire/psps.
For additional tips and resources on how to prepare for storm season, visit ready.lacounty.gov. Please visit alert.lacounty.gov to register for emergency alerts.