Etiwanda fire: Hotter, drier conditions Thursday to hamper firefight

It’s going to get worse before it gets better for firefighters battling the Etiwanda fire in Rancho Cucamonga, according to the National Weather Service.

Thursday will be hotter and drier with northeasterly wind gusts as high as 50 mph sending smoke and ash across the hillsides.

“The bad news is, we’re going to have some tough, hot, dry, windy conditions to fight that fire and in case any other fire gets started, it’s going to spread quickly,” said Miguel Miller, a forecaster with the National Weather Service. “The good news is, conditions will improve this afternoon.”

Officials were planning to give an update on the fire Thursday morning.

Temperatures are expected to hover around 90 degrees from mid-morning until sunset, Miller said, with humidity as low as 5% -- making for worse conditions for firefighters than when the blaze first began shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday.

The National Weather Service extended its red flag fire warnings through Thursday morning and predicted that temperatures could near 100 degrees in downtown Los Angeles and other areas as high pressure continues to grip the region.

Powerful Santa Ana winds, however, should begin to subside after noon, Miller said, and drop to a “light breeze” by the evening.

“Without that wind, it allows firefighters’ efforts to continue,” Miller said. “It’s going to be sunny and smoky.”

The Etiwanda fire, fanned by gusty Santa Ana winds, had charred at least 1,000 acres of parched chaparral- and brush-covered hillsides after breaking out near the Day Canyon area.

Mandatory evacuations for more than 1,600 residences were lifted in the afternoon, but they remained voluntary through the night, with sheriff’s deputies limiting access to many neighborhoods to residents only.

No injuries or major damage had been reported.

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