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Cal Fire prepares for strong winds during red flag warning

Worst may be yet to come
Posted at 7:19 PM, Dec 06, 2017
and last updated 2017-12-06 22:19:45-05

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- The red flag warning means it is crunch time at Cal Fire as it is with all fire agencies across southern California.

Santa Ana winds, low humidity, and so much fuel for wildfires... nothing is left to chance.

Cal Fire Capt. Jon Heggie told 10News,   "Right now we've cancelled days off for all personnel to make sure every able body is on a piece of equipment, ready for fires if one were to break out here in San Diego."

They're monitoring the entire region in the Cal Fire Command Center; it features huge tv screens that tell a story.

"What we use this for is to give us snapshots of real-time conditions; wind, temperature or humidity; we're really focused on winds.  As colors get darker, especially in red, those are higher winds speeds so we can focus on when Santa Ana's will surface and how strong they are."

Capt. Cory Costa electronically zeroed in on the satellite images to where those strong winds could wreak the most havoc if fire were to break out.  He explained, "You're seeing high speeds coming down through Poway, El Cajon, and the mountain areas of Julian, Descanso, Pine Valley, and further south to the Mexican border."