Fire danger will be heightened as Santa Ana winds arrive Thursday and Cal Fire has extra crews and equipment on standby.
Santa Ana winds arrive when a high pressure in the desert to the east of San Diego forces air to move west, bringing with it hot, dry conditions into the lower pressure found along and offshore the California coastline.
The weather pattern creates prime conditions for a damaging wildfire as San Diego County witnessed with the Cedar and Paradise Fires in October 2003 and the Witch Creek, Harris, Rice Canyon Fires in 2007.
In anticipation for the winds this week, Cal Fire has staffed extra crews on equipment and at stations around the county.
The Emergency Command and Control Center will be staffed with additional personnel and additional battalion chief coverage is scheduled, Cal Fire officials said Wednesday.
Not only will there be an additional air tanker available at Ramona but the agency will have round-the-clock staffing on five water tenders and all fire reserve apparatus and bulldozers.
Santa Anas are expected each morning through Sunday but the weather service says it will be a weak event, with winds of just 15 mph to 25 mph.
Local
A new online tool developed by the U.S. Forest Service, SDG&E and UCLA suggests the risk of a wildfire from this Santa Ana wind event will be marginal in San Diego, the lowest category on the tool's scale.
However, Kendal Bortisser of Cal Fire, said he didn't necessarily agree with the tool's "marginal" danger status for Thursday, explaining at this time of year with these conditions, there is always high fire danger.
The Santa Ana Wildfire Threat Index, a classification system that analyzes the fire threat potential of Santa Ana winds, was rolled out in September to help homeowners and fire officials prepare.
San Diego County officials are also urging residents to download the free emergency smartphone application SDEmergency and follow three key steps.
GET READY: Do your 100-foot defensible space in advance
GET SET: Have an emergency plan. Pack your car when Santa Anas arrive.
GO: When told to leave, leave.
Download NBC 7's free mobile phone and iPad apps to get breaking news alerts on any fires as soon as they are spotted.
