Fierce wildfires are currently racing across California due to the gusty Santa Ana winds; weather predictors are currently estimating that the winds could become even stronger within the next few days. Because of these wildfires, nearly 100,000 acres of land have been destroyed,  in addition to miles of the 101 freeway closing in both directions west of Ventura. Forecasters have predicted wind gusts of up to 80 miles per hour, these threatening conditions would ground helicopters and aircrafts that can drop water on the flames. “The forecast for Thursday is purple,” Ken Pimlott, Director at the California Department of forestry and fire protection said last night, referring to the only color above red on the wind scale, “we’ve never used purple before.” 

At least for the time being, an end to these massive forest fires is a long way away. The National Weather Service in Los Angeles and Oxnard says it expects dangerous fire conditions to continue into Saturday, with powerful winds and low humidity. The NWS office also added that when a fire starts with conditions such as powerful winds and low humidity there is a high chance of  “very rapid fire spread, long-range spotting, and extreme fire behavior.”

In addition, the Associated Press noted, “the wilder winds could easily make new fires explode too, as one did Wednesday in Los Angeles exclusive Bel-Air section, where a fire consumed multimillion-dollar houses that gave the rich and famous sweeping views of Los Angeles.”

The California Fire Department estimated that hundreds of structures including 200 homes have been destroyed and that as many as 200,000 people are under evacuation orders. Some 12,000 structures are considered in danger.