California's fire‑season ignited a series of blazes on Friday, with gusts up to 30 mph and falling humidity turning the Santa Monica Mountains into a tinderbox. The Bri‑son Fire, already consuming about 200 acres, now demands 285 firefighters and has prompted the evacuation of a juvenile detention center on the outskirts of Los Angeles.
The blaze threatened a 40‑acre patch in Azusa, forcing a temporary evacuation of a San Gabriel foothill neighborhood, while a separate fire at Camp Pendleton prompted the removal of personnel from the Las Flores area before orders were lifted later that evening.
Over 150,000 electricity customers in Northern, Central and Southern California are without power, according to PowerOutage.com. Utilities have pre‑emptively shut down service in high‑risk zones to prevent ignition of equipment during the red‑flag warning issued by the National Weather Service.
The Santa Ana wind forecast predicts peaks of 50–70 mph in the San Gabriel and Santa Susana mountains, with a prolonged high‑temperature spell expected to keep fire danger elevated through Saturday. Local officials, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, have mobilized emergency resources and coordinated with the state's Office of Emergency Services.
As crews contain the existing fires, power restoration crews are scheduled to resume service by Saturday afternoon, though officials warn that any new ignition could push back the timetable.