Red-flag fire warnings issued for LA, Ventura, Santa Barbara counties

A red-flag warning has been issued for mountain areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, as low humidity and high temperatures significantly increase the risk of fire.

Similar warnings were also issued for the Santa Ynez mountains of Santa Barbara County. The Sherpa Fire has already burned through more than 7,800 acres in Santa Barbara County, driven by low humidity and strong sundowner winds.

Another fire started Saturday morning in the mountains about six miles north of Azusa. The Burro Fire, named for the nearby Burron Canyon Shooting Park, burned through about five acres before U.S. Forest Service and Los Angeles County firefighters were able to get it under control. Highway 39 was closed for several hours while they fought the flames.

Hot, dry vegetation helped drive the flames and conditions in the forest were listed as "very high" fire danger Saturday afternoon.

The National Weather Service issued the red-flag warning for the Los Angeles County mountain areas of the Angeles National Forest, the Santa Monica mountains and the Ventura County mountain areas of Los Padres National Forest. The warning was in effect Sunday morning through Tuesday night.

Winds were expected to be south to west 10 to 20 mph, with local gusts up to 30 mph in the afternoon and evening. Humidity levels were expected in the single digits. Temperatures will range from 97 to 106 degrees.

If there is a fire, the NWS warned, "conditions will be favorable for extreme fire behavior and rapid fire spread, which could threaten life and property."