ignition

Use extreme caution with any potential ignition sources.

Areas covered by the red flag warning “will be at greater risk for rapid fire spread and extreme fire behavior if ignitions were to occur,” the National Weather Service warning said.

“Fires may be growing faster due to warming trends, vegetation transitions to more flammable fuels, or the co-occurrence of high winds with increasing human-related ignitions,” the study posited.

According to a red flag warning issued for Southern California, “if fire ignition occurs, conditions are favorable for rapid fire spread and extreme fire behavior which would threaten life and property.”

Most Californians can expect cooler temperatures for the next few days, though a midweek switch in weather patterns is forecast to amp up winds, increasing the risk for wildfire ignition and spread.