A tropical storm approaching Southern California on Friday threatened to bring high winds that could whip up wildfires and heavy rainfall that could trigger flash floods, but the system will also bring relief from a brutal, 10-day heat wave.
Tropical Storm Kay was expected to generate wind gusts of up to 100 miles per hour, fanning the flames of the Fairview Fire, which has already scorched about 27,000 acres in Riverside County, east of Los Angeles.
The fire, which was 5 percent contained, could force 22,000 people to evacuate before the storm inundates the area with heavy rain, fire officials warned.
Flames grow next to a fire engine as the Fairview Fire burns near Hemet, Calif. on Sept. 7, 2022. (David Swanson/Reuters)
“We could go from a fire suppression event into significant rain, water rescues, mudslides, debris flows. We have challenging days ahead,” said Deputy Chief Jeff Veik of Cal Fire’s Riverside Unit on Thursday during a community meeting….