FIRE DANGER PEAKS AUTUMN WINDS HOWL THROUGH SOUTHLAND.

Byline: Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer

Powerful winds are expected to continue today after ripping through the region Monday, severing tree limbs, knocking out power and fanning brush fires that damaged at least one home.

Santa Ana winds whipped up mountains of dust on gusts as high as 77 mph across Southern California. The winds are expected to decrease through Thanksgiving weekend.

As one of the worst fire seasons on record draws to a close, the Los Angeles County Fire Department issued a red-flag alert, its highest warning.

The California Highway Patrol also issued high-wind advisories throughout the region.

More than 250 firefighters doused brush fires in La Crescenta and Santa Clarita on Monday afternoon, but not before one home went up in flames.

``I was getting ready to go to classes when I heard a snap,'' said Victoria Ciulla, 20, of La Crescenta, who called 911 just after 10 a.m. after watching power lines spark a brush fire that severely damaged her neighbor's house.

``At first we didn't know what to do. We saw the flames ... and I started watering everything.''

The flames leaped onto the roof of a single-story, wood-frame home nestled in heavy brush along the 3000 block Gertrude Avenue in the Verdugo Mountain foothills.

The fire destroyed the attic and parts of the roof. About 100 firefighters and a water-dropping helicopter extinguished the fire in less than an hour. No injuries were reported.

About 150 firefighters backed by aircraft also put out a fire that broke out at about 1:30 p.m. and burned 10 acres along Highway 126 near the oil fields west of Santa Clarita.

Earlier in the day, firefighters managed to douse a half-acre blaze along Sierra Highway in Newhall before it could spread in brush in some of its driest condition in three decades.

``We were lucky today,'' said Edward Osario, a county fire inspector. ``We have the potential for some real hellacious fires. It's very hard to predict what these winds are going to do.''

Wind-driven wildfires have also taxed firefighters up and down the northern Sierra Nevada weeks after the end of Northern California's official fire season.

Weather forecasters said this week's Santa Ana winds are the worst in several years. North winds blew 25 to 45 miles per hour in much of the Southland and more than 75 mph through mountain passes and canyons.

According to the National Weather Service, winds by midafternoon had gusted as high as 20 mph in Lancaster, 28 in Thousand Oaks, 31 in Van Nuys and Palmdale, 33 in Simi Valley, 46 in Mojave, 50 at Zuma Beach and 75 mph at Circle X Ranch in the hills above Malibu - and the speed was still increasing. By early evening, the winds had kicked up to 53 mph in Burbank and 77 mph in Glendale.

``It's everywhere. It's blowin' pretty good everywhere. This is the strongest I can remember in several years,'' said Stuart Seto, a National Weather Service specialist based in Oxnard.

High winds are expected to continue today but to slow to 15 to 25 mph through Thanksgiving weekend, with a 20 percent chance of rain Friday.

The California Highway Patrol issued wind advisories on the Golden State and Antelope Valley freeways. Motorists were cautioned to keep high-profile vehicles off the road. No serious problems were reported.

In Burbank, two window washers thrashed by high winds got stuck on the 32nd floor of Burbank Towers, according to city firefighters. Rescue crews were dispatched, but the washers were able to regain control of their platform and lift themselves to safety.

Winds knocked down three major power lines in the San Fernando Valley, cutting power to thousands of customers in Mission Hills, Sunland-Tujunga, North Hills, Studio City and Arleta-Pacoima, the Department of Water and Power reported.

The worst outages occurred east of the Valley in such communities as Highland Park, where 3,300 homes went dark.

``We've got every crew out there that we can,'' said DWP spokesman Randy Hough, who expected power to be restored within hours.

Besides thick dust and blowing trash, what really aggravated residents was the threat of falling tree limbs.

In Granada Hills, a pine tree blew over on Paso Robles Avenue, crushing the rear of a Toyota Camry parked across the street.

``Right now it's busy: We're getting a call every three minutes, either about trees limbs falling or boughs blocking streets,'' said Henry Ong, a spokesman for the Department of Public Works.

``Our first concern is for the safety of the residents.''

Residents who are afflicted by falling trees are asked to call (800) 996- CITY.

Staff writers Susan Abram and Patricia Farrell Aidem contributed to this report.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, map

Photo:

(1 -- color) Sea gulls balance in winds Monday at Lake Balboa in Encino.

Phil McCarten/Staff Photographer

(2 -- color) Firefighters battle flames Monday atop a house on Gertrude Avenue in La Crescenta.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer

Map:

House fire in 3000 block of Gertrude Avenue