LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rainfall is set to provide relief to drought-stricken Southern California on Saturday, aiding firefighters in their efforts to control multiple wildfires. However, heavy rain on scorched hillsides could lead to new threats, such as toxic ash runoff.
Throughout the week, Los Angeles County crews worked to clear vegetation, stabilize slopes, and reinforce roads in areas devastated by the Palisades and Eaton fires, which destroyed entire neighborhoods after igniting amid powerful winds on January 7.
The National Weather Service predicted less than an inch of rainfall for most of the region but warned that localized downpours could trigger dangerous mud and debris flows. “While damaging debris flows are not the most likely outcome, there is still a lot of uncertainty with this storm,” the agency noted on social media. Rain is expected to intensify through the weekend and continue into Monday, with flood watches in place for burn areas.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order to speed up cleanup and address fire-related pollution. LA County supervisors also approved emergency measures to install flood-control infrastructure and remove sediment in fire-damaged regions. Fire crews distributed sandbags, while county workers set up barriers and cleared drainage systems to reduce flood risks.
Officials cautioned residents about the toxic ash left in burn zones, which contains hazardous materials such as asbestos, lead, and plastics. Residents were urged to use protective gear during cleanup efforts.
Concerns about debris flows are heightened by past disasters, such as the 2018 Montecito mudslides that claimed 23 lives and damaged hundreds of homes following a wildfire.
Despite improved weather conditions, several wildfires continued to burn on Saturday. The Palisades and Eaton fires, which claimed 28 lives and destroyed over 14,000 structures, reached 81% and 95% containment, respectively. Meanwhile, significant progress was made against the Hughes Fire in northern Los Angeles County, which prompted mass evacuations earlier in the week. In San Diego County, the Border 2 Fire near the U.S.-Mexico border remained largely uncontrolled.
The anticipated rain will break an extended dry spell for the region. According to the Los Angeles Times, Southern California has received less than 5% of its average rainfall for this water year, with much of the area in “extreme” or “severe” drought, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Source: Swifteradio.com
