Possible Thunderstorms Over Southern California Prompt More Fire Warnings

A weather system moving into Southern California is expected to bring another lengthy heat wave and dry lightning to the region, increasing fire danger and prompting the National Weather Service to issue fire-danger warnings in several counties Aug. 1.

The weather service issued a red-flag warning, specifically for increased risk of fire, Thursday for Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties, and the Santa Clarita Valley. A series of thunderstorms were expected to bring rain to the area through Saturday.

Some of the thunderstorms were not expected to produce rain, making the lightning strikes more capable of igniting fires, the weather service reported.

“Considering the recent extended heat waves and rapidly drying fuels, a significant fire-weather risk will exist,” the weather service said in the warning.

The state’s largest fire, named the Park fire in Butte and Tehama counties, which has burned 614 square miles—nearly 150 square miles larger than the City of Los Angeles—was 18 percent contained Thursday.

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