Rain has fallen in Southern California after weeks of windy and dry weather, which is expected to aid firefighters responding Multiple forest firesbut potentially heavy rain on burned hillsides can cause toxic ash runoff.
Los Angeles County crews spent the past week clearing vegetation, shoring up slopes and reinforcing roads in areas devastated by the Palisades and Eaton fires earlier this month.
Most of the region was expected to receive about an inch of precipitation over several days, but the National Weather Service said “the threat is high enough to prepare for the worst-case scenario” of localized cloud bursts leading to mud and rubble sliding hills.
“So the problem would be if one of those showers happens to park itself through a burn,” said Weather Service meteorologist Carol Smith. “That could be enough to create debris flows.”
Workers secure a net to prevent mudslides over the burned side of a mansion in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP)
Rains started late Saturday and were expected to increase Sunday and possibly into early Tuesday, according to forecasters. Flood watches were issued for some burn areas, while the mountains were expected to receive snow.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat, issued an executive order last week to speed up cleanup efforts and reduce the environmental impact of fire-related pollutants. Los Angeles County supervisors also approved an emergency motion to implement flood control infrastructure and accelerate and remove sediment in areas affected by the fires.
Firefighters released hotspots Thursday, January 23, 2025, in Camarillo, California, where the Laguna fire broke out. (AP)
Officials said ash in recent burn zones was a toxic mix of burned cars, electronics, batteries, building materials, paints, furniture and other household items. The ash contains pesticides, asbestos, plastics and lead. Officials urged residents to wear protective equipment when cleaning up.
Concerns about potential debris flows after a fire have been particularly high since 2018, when the city of Montecito faced mudslides after a downpour that snagged mountain slopes and burned them bare. A total of 23 people died and hundreds of houses were damaged.
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Firefighters released hotspots Thursday, January 23, 2025, in Camarillo, California, where the Laguna fire broke out. (AP)
Into the wet weather of the weekend Southern California Ending weeks of dangerous winds and reduced humidity, several wildfires were still burning in the area on Saturday, including the Palisades and Eaton Fires, which killed at least 28 people and destroyed more than 14,000 structures. The Palisades Fire was 81% contained on Saturday and the Eaton Fire was 95% contained.
Meanwhile, firefighters in northern Los Angeles County have made significant progress against the Hughes Fire, which forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate when it erupted in mountains near Lake Castaic on Wednesday.
There was little containment of the Border 2 fire in San Diego County as it burned through a remote area of ​​the Otay Mountain Wilderness near the U.S.-Mexico border.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
