The smoke was expected to most heavily affect northwest coastal LA County, and in areas nearest the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst wildfires.

The wildfires burning across LA are also degrading the air quality across the region. The resulting air pollution is a serious health threat, especially for children, pregnant people, older adults, and those with preexisting conditions.

The massive Palisades Fire broke out in Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon, prompting mandatory evacuations affecting tens of thousands of people and highway closures. Later Tuesday, the Eaton Fire broke out in the foothills of Pasadena on the other side of Los Angeles County.

A fast-moving wildfire broke out Thursday afternoon near West Hills, northwest of Los Angeles, threatening homes. The Kennith Fire was first reported around 2:30 p.m. in an area of dry brush in the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve.

Nearly 2,000 homes, businesses, and other structures have been destroyed in the Eaton and Palisades fires, and the number is expected to increase. The five deaths recorded so far were from the Eaton Fire.

High pressure is building from the north and that will help to tighten the pressure gradient over southern California, producing more gusty winds.

Fresh off destructive wind and firestorms, the forecast remains daunting for Southern California with additional damaging Santa Ana wind threats and critical fire weather danger continuing at times over the next several days.