The rain in southern California creates muddy streams but helps firefighters – ABC11 Raleigh -Durham

More rain fell on Monday in parts of southern California after causing muddy streams over the weekend, helping firefighters, but increasing the risk of toxic ash flowing in areas burned by forest fires in the Los Angeles region.

Flood observations were in force for burning areas of recent fires that erupted around Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles, Altadan and Lake Casteake, said Joe Sirard, a meteorologist at the National Meteorological Service in Oxnard.

“All these fresh burns are very susceptible to rapid drainage,” Sirard said, warning even of small amounts of rain in a few minutes. “This means that we have a very high risk of mud and debris streams after we exceed these thresholds.”

The Los Angeles International Airport reported slightly in an inch rain (2.5 centimeters) for a 24-hour period ending in 3am on Monday, the National Ocean and Atmosphere Affairs announced. The surrounding areas report smaller quantities.

The school was closed on Monday for the four schools in Malibu in the united school district of Santa Monica-Malibu “due to dangerous road conditions and challenges with access to our schools,” published online school staff.

Part of the Pacific coastal highway in Los Angeles County has been closed Sunday afternoon due to muddy flows in the Topanga Canyon, the California Ministry of Transport reported. Heavy snow fell into the mountains in the districts of San Bernardino and Riverside.

One benefit that can come from the rain: can help firefighters who control many forest fires after weeks of windy and dry weather.

The Los Angeles County teams spent much of last week removing vegetation, strengthening slopes and strengthening roads in the devastated areas of Palisades and Eaton fires, which turned entire neighborhoods into rubble and ashes after erupting during strong winds of January 7.

The Palisades fire, the largest of the fires, which destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 11 people, reached 90% mastery on Sunday. The Eaton fire, which broke out near Altadan and killed at least 16 people, was mastered at 98%.

Hughes’s fire, which flared up north of Los Angeles last week and caused evacuation or warnings for more than 50,000 people, was mastered 95% as of Sunday night.

In the San Diego County, firefighters have made progress to master the smaller fire Border 2, which burned in a remote area of ​​the Mountain Desert Outa near the US-Mexico border.

Most of the region was expected to fall around one inch rainfall in a few days, but the Meteorological Service warned of the risk of localized outbursts of clouds causing mud and debris to flow down the hills.

“So the problem would be if one of these rains accidentally parked on a burn area,” said meteorologist at the Meteorological Service Carol Smith in social media. “This may be enough to create flows of debris.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order last week to accelerate efforts to clean and mitigate environmental impact of fires. The Supervisory authorities of Los Angeles County have also approved an emergency proposal to install infrastructure to control floods and accelerate and remove sediments in the areas affected by fire.

Fire crews filled with sand sacks for communities while county workers installed barriers and cleared drainage pipes and pools.

Officials have warned that the ash in recent combustion areas is a toxic mixture of burned cars, electronics, batteries, building materials, paints, furniture and other household items. Contains pesticides, asbestos, plastics and lead. Residents were called to wear protective equipment while cleaning.

The concerns about the flows of debris after the fire are particularly high since 2018, when the city of Montesito, up the shore of Los Angeles, was devastated by muddy landslides after rain struck mountain slopes stripped by a huge fire. Hundreds of homes were damaged and 23 people were killed.

The rain interrupted an almost record series of dry weather for southern California. Most of Southern California is currently in Extreme drought or heavy drought, according to the US drought monitor.