“I just came back from performing a concert in Cali and saw 20,000 Colombians singing along. Most of them were young. I told them, ‘When this song came out, you hadn’t been born yet.’”

But when the heaviest Santa Anas of the winter hit when the rains have yet to come, everywhere near that dry native vegetation is at risk.

And yet two blocks away, on Marguerita Avenue near Ocean Avenue, a construction crew calmly worked at an apartment building.

Under the proposed measures, which are yet to be finalised, UK-based individuals and financial institutions would be banned by law from dealing with sanctioned groups.

While the cause of each blaze has yet to be determined, all have exploded in or near foothill communities where gusty winds and dry air and vegetation fueled fast-spreading flames.