BRIEFLY IN PUBLIC SAFETY

High winds, low humidity create wildfire conditions

High Santa Ana winds and extremely low humidity prompted the National Weather Service to issue a red flag warning in much of Southern California, indicating high risk of wildfires. While the warning covers only the most inland portions of Orange County, high winds are expected to buffet even coastal regions.

A high wind advisory is in effect until 6 p.m. today in coastal Orange County, while the red flag warning for Southern California lasts through the weekend.

Forecaster Brandt Maxwell said even the coasts were seeing unusually low humidity, with numbers dropping below 10% in Huntington Beach.

“These conditions would make it very easy for wildfires to get out of control,” Maxwell said.

Alleged child molester to get new trial on Feb. 22

Michael Roeder, a German tourist convicted on Dec. 26 of possessing child pornography but who had a deadlocked jury on charges that he molested an 8-year-old girl at Newport Dunes, will have a new jury trial, Orange County District Attorney officials said.

A judge decided Friday that there was enough evidence to go forward with a new trial. It is scheduled for Feb. 22 at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.

Farrah Emami, a spokeswoman for the Orange County District Attorney’s office, said she was unsure when sentencing for the pornography charge would occur.