A series of wildfires ignited in San Diego County early Tuesday, leading to evacuation alerts, school shutdowns, and power outages, while authorities in Los Angeles stayed on high alert due to fierce winds and extremely dry conditions.

Fire crews tackled three small brush fires overnight in northern San Diego County. The largest blaze, known as the Lilac Fire, expanded to 80 acres and led to evacuations in Bonsall, a small town located about 45 minutes north of San Diego. This fire displaced 86 residents and caused damage to two structures, according to officials. By 8 a.m. Pacific Time, it was only 10% contained.

The Pala Fire, situated north of Pala Mesa, has scorched 17 acres but firefighters succeeded in halting its advance, with earlier evacuation orders now lifted, officials confirmed. Another minor brush fire called the Riverview Fire burned just one acre before being contained.

The cause of these blazes is currently unknown. They erupted amid hurricane-force winds sweeping through Southern California overnight, as reported by the National Weather Service. A peak wind gust of 102 mph was recorded in the San Diego mountains at around 10 p.m. Monday.

By late Tuesday morning, nearly half of the 97,000 reported power outages across California were affecting nearby San Diego and Riverside counties.

In Los Angeles County, firefighters were making headway against two severe wildfires that had destroyed over 15,000 buildings and claimed at least 27 lives. The area remained under red flag warnings, raising concerns that the Palisades and Eaton fires could spread or that new fires might ignite.

Firefighters Make Progress on Lilac Fire in San Diego County

Efforts to control the Lilac Fire, which led to numerous evacuations, power outages, and school closures, have seen improvement. By around 10 a.m. PT, officials reported that the fire’s forward movement had been arrested.

“Firefighters are making significant advances on the fire,” stated an update from Cal Fire. “Fire activity has notably decreased.”

Containment of the blaze had risen to 10% as of 8 a.m. local time, roughly seven hours after the fire was first detected.

“Two out of the three fires that ignited overnight are now under control. However, the Lilac Fire is still actively burning at 80 acres,” wrote Jim Desmond, a San Diego County supervisor, in a social media update. “Please remain vigilant, follow official updates, and be prepared to evacuate if necessary. Our first responders are working diligently to protect lives and properties.”

San Diego County Schools Closed Due to Wildfires

Several school districts announced closures on Tuesday, citing “high winds, fire risks, and power outages.” Below is a list of the school districts that are closed, according to the San Diego County Office of Education.

• Bonsall Unified School District
• Julian Union Elementary School District
• Julian Union High School District
• Mountain Empire Unified School District
• Spencer Valley School District
• Warner Unified School District

Red Flag Warnings Across Southern California Amid Fires

Red flag warnings were issued across the Southern California coast on Tuesday, as weather officials cautioned about strong wind gusts that could quickly spread fires and cause power outages. This dangerous fire weather is expected to persist at least until midweek due to high winds and low humidity, according to the NWS.

In San Diego County, forecasters warned of wind speeds ranging from 30 to 40 mph, with gusts possibly reaching 70 mph. In mountainous areas, wind speeds could hit 80 to 90 mph, they added.

“If fire ignitions occur, conditions are conducive for rapid fire spread and extreme behavior,” stated a red flag warning from the San Diego weather service. This advisory was set to conclude at 10 p.m. local time.

Forecasters announced that Santa Ana winds would continue to blow through Los Angeles and Ventura counties until Tuesday afternoon. The warnings advised residents to remain cautious amid the strong winds and dropping humidity levels, which could fall to single digits.

“THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION,” a warning from the National Weather Service in Los Angeles emphasized. “DESTRUCTIVE WINDS ARE ANTICIPATED!”

Updates on the Palisades and Eaton Fires

As of Tuesday morning, the Palisades Fire had burned 23,713 acres and was 63% contained, according to Cal Fire. Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire had affected 14,021 acres and was at 89% containment.

“Firefighters are making consistent progress, and officials are reevaluating evacuation orders to ensure safe returns,” mentioned a report on the Palisades Fire. “Crews are collaborating with utility companies to repair infrastructure and address hazards such as fallen trees and downed power lines. The public is urged to remain aware of current fire conditions.”

Cal Fire reported that firefighters were concentrating on hot spots within the Eaton Fire’s perimeter while officials lifted evacuation orders gradually.

Additionally, resources have been mobilized in La Cañada, located west of the blaze, “to respond to any new fire starts or ongoing fire activity within the current area,” according to an operational update from Cal Fire.

Over 95K People Without Power in Southern California

Many residents across Southern California woke up without power due to high winds and wildfires disrupting electricity supply in the region.

In San Diego County, over 17,000 households and businesses were without power by 10:45 a.m. PT, according to PowerOutage.us. Nearby Riverside County faced nearly 29,000 utility customers affected by outages.

Across Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, around 35,000 homes and businesses were also without power.

Wind Power in Southern California: What You Need to Know

Here are some of the highest recorded wind gusts across Southern California through Monday night, based on preliminary reports from the National Weather Service.

• Sill Hill, San Diego County – 102 mph
• Keen Ridge, Riverside County – 81 mph
• Banning, Riverside County – 83 mph
• Hauser Mountain, San Diego County – 77 mph
• Chino Hills, Orange County – 71 mph
• California State University, San Bernardino – 60 mph

(This story has been updated to include the latest information.)