Now, Santa Ana winds are expected to sweep through the area early next week, accompanied by low humidity, meaning more potentially dangerous fire conditions. Here's what to expect over the weekend and into next week.

Containing wildfires—never mind extinguishing them—in parched and windy conditions can be monstrously difficult. Dry vegetation is rocket fuel for blazes and wind both feeds the flames and spreads the embers. “The winds are like pointing an air blower at a fireplace,” says Gershunov, “except it’s not contained and it’s on a much larger scale.”