Southern California under fire warnings as Santa Ana winds arrive for Thanksgiving
CBSN
Santa Ana winds will bring dry air and high gusts to Southern California, significantly increasing the threat of fires over the Thanksgiving holiday, the National Weather Service said. More than 3 million residents from the Los Angeles to San Diego area are under fire warnings.
"Those living near fire prone undeveloped areas, like the national forests, should make or review the family plan including what to take and evacuation routes in the event of an evacuation order is issued or a nearby wildfire threatens," National Weather Service Los Angeles said in a forecast. "This is especially important with unaware visitors during the holiday week."
The Santa Ana winds, dry coastal gusts that usually affect Southern California, are currently blowing between 40 to 60 mph. Humidity is low — around 2 to 8% — bringing dry conditions to Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Burbank and areas east of San Diego. If a fire begins, officials say the combination of dry weather and fast winds will spread any blaze that starts.
Ashley White received her earliest combat action badge from the United States Army soon after the first lieutenant arrived in Afghanistan. The silver military award, recognizing soldiers who've been personally engaged by an attacker during conflict, was considered an achievement in and of itself as well as an affirming rite of passage for the newly deployed. White had earned it for using her own body to shield a group of civilian women and children from gunfire that broke out in the midst of her third mission in Kandahar province. All of them survived. She never mentioned the badge to anyone in her battalion.
The knock at the door came at nighttime on Mother's Day 2008 in Oregon, where Jessica Ellis' parents lived. It was around 9:20 p.m. and his wife, Linda, was already in bed; her father Steve Ellis told CBS News, that he thought someone let their animals out — but two soldiers in Class A uniforms were standing at the door.