Southland braces for Santa Ana winds, Red Flag warnings

LOS ANGELES - A Red Flag Warning went into effect across Southern California along with wind and heat advisories Thursday. 

Firefighters brace for elevated fire weather conditions

Red Flag Warnings linger across Southern California

Forecasters warned of high winds, low humidity and heat, which combine for the perfect recipe for critical fire weather conditions. 

Ventura County and a large portion of Los Angeles County were under a Red Flag Warning, High Wind Warning, Wind Advisory and Heat Advisory through Friday as 90-degree heat prevailed through the area. 

Strong Santa Ana winds were expected in San Bernardino and Riverside counties with a possibility of wind gusts of up to 60 mph and even isolated gusts of 75 mph through mountain passes and canyons. 

The National Weather Service expected peak wind gusts up to 65 mph through mountain passes in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. 

A fire ignited on the Newhall Pass in the same area where the Saddleridge Fire struck. A strike team was in the area as part of a strategic staging as fire crews across Southland increased staffing for the anticipated Santa Ana wind event. Fire crews remained on standby in fire-prone areas that included Santa Clarita, Agoura Hills, the Angeles National Forecast, and La Cañada Flintridge.

More than 15,000 Southern Californa Edison customers were without power Thursday due to Public Safety Power Shutoffs. The electric supply company warned 300,000 more could be without power pending elevated fire conditions. 

As new fires ignited, firefighters continued to battle an uphill, rugged brush fire in Pacific Palisades and the Saddleridge Fire in the northern San Fernando Valley. 

CNS contributed to this report.