As much needed rain falls across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties and gives firefighters relief from ongoing wildfires, officials are warning crisis-weary residents of new problems in the burn scar areas: flash floods, mudslides, hazardous waste, and toxic ash runoff.
NWS Issues Flood Watch for Burn Scar Areas
As NPR reports, the National Weather Service (NWS) had issued a flood watch beginning at 4:00 p.m. PDT on Sunday through 4:00 p.m. PDT Monday that includes areas scorched by the fires known as “burn scars.” Any thunderstorm that forms could bring “brief heavy downpours and gusty winds may occur,” the NWS said.
Los Angeles and Ventura Counties were forecast to receive 0.75 to one inches of rain, with 1.5 to three inches of rain expected for the mountains. San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties were expected to receive up to one inch of rain in the mountains with a slight chance for 1.5 to three inches, according to the NWS. There was even a chance of small hail, and waterspouts over waters off the California coast.
“High rain over a burn scar may result in debris flows or mudslides. Follow the instructions of local officials!,” the NWS Los Angeles office warned in a post on X.
Fast-moving mud, debris and rocks “can pose serious dangers to roads and homes,” the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said, adding that residents should “stay prepared and alert!.” The department cautions those in areas impacted by the fires to be ready to evacuate to higher ground and have an emergency plan. Driving through areas with debris and flooding should also be avoided.
Officials across multiple agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), have begun cleaning up debris to “safely dispose of hazardous materials from all burned areas.” This also includes ash from burned vegetation, buildings and cars that cover areas scorched by the fire and spread to other areas by the winds.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also signed an emergency executive order early last week directing city crews to “install reinforced concrete barriers, lay down sandbags and clear debris to shore up burn areas and stem the flow of toxins.” In a statement, the Mayor said, “With rain in the forecast, it’s imperative we take aggressive action to prevent additional damage in burn areas and to protect our water and ocean from hazardous runoff.”
Firefighters have made progress on the fires, with the Palisade Fire 87% contained, the Eaton Fire 95% contained and the Hughes Fire, which broke out on Wednesday morning, 92% contained, according to a Sunday morning estimate by California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Flash Flood Warning Issued in Malibu
The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for Malibu near the Franklin Fire and Palisades Fire burn scars through Sunday evening as heavy rain moves through the region. Officials reported flooding along Pacific Coast Highway due to the rain at around 8:15 p.m., according to NWS officials. “While not immediately likely, a life threatening debris flow will be possible,” a release said.
As such, the warning remains in place through at least 11 p.m. on Sunday evening near both the burn scar from the Franklin Fire, which scored thousands of acres in December, and the western portion of hte Palisades Fire burn scar west of Las Flores Canyon Road, NWS officials said.
“This is a life threatening situation,” the release said. “Heavy rainfall will cause extensive and severe flash flooding of creeks…streams…and ditches in the Burn Scar. Severe debris flows are possible across roads.”
Earlier in the day, a number of considerable mudflows forced the closure of multiple roads in the Palisades Fire burn scar. The first closure, on Palisades Drive downhill from Avenida De Santa Ynez and Paseo Vista Hermosa, happened in the area decimated by the wildfire in early January, was reported at around 4 p.m. About 30 minutes later, California Highway Patrol also closed the Pacific Coast Highway, just west of Topanga Canyon Boulevard for a separate mudflow, according to a post from the department on X.
Just north over the Santa Monica Mountains, a different mudflow trapped multiple cars in Woodland Hills. At least four vehicles became trapped on Mulholland Drive near Alhama Drive, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. While nobody needed to be rescued, tow trucks and LA Department of Transportation officials were called to the location to remove the cars and handle traffic in the area.
More Hazards from Wildfire Damage
Damage from wildfires pose other several safety and health hazards, including from hazardous materials and chemicals, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Fire debris and ash contain “harmful substances” such as asbestos, heavy metals and toxic chemicals, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said during a press conference last week. “Heavy metals such as lead and arsenic can come from burned electronics and building materials and even a brief exposure can potentially cause skin irritations and lead to more serious illness,” she continued.
Residents in burned areas who have been cleared by local authorities to return home should take “precautions to protect your health and safety,” Los Angeles County officials said.
An N95 mask is recommended on returning to homes, which protects users from breathing in harmful particles, as well as safety goggles which protect the eyes from ash, debris and smoke. Long-sleeved shirts, long pants and gloves are recommended to protect the skin. Residents also should not remove hazardous debris without assistance. Officials also advise those in wildfire areas to monitor the air quality going forward, and wear an N95 mask whenever there is smoke, dust and ash in the air.
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