Heavy rain on fire-scorched areas could trigger floods, landslides, and toxic ash runoff.
After weeks of dry and windy conditions, rain finally arrived in southern California’s parched regions on Saturday, offering much-needed relief for firefighters battling ongoing wildfires. However, officials warn that heavy downpours on burned slopes could create new hazards such as mudslides, debris flows, and the release of toxic substances from ash, according to the AP.
Forecasters predict approximately 2.5 centimeters of rainfall across most areas in the coming days. However, some regions could see higher amounts, increasing the risk of mud and debris flows from fire-ravaged hillsides.
Rain began late Saturday evening and is expected to intensify throughout Sunday, potentially lasting until early Tuesday, meteorologists reported. Flood warnings have been issued for certain fire-affected areas, while snowfall is expected in higher elevations.
Authorities in Los Angeles had already ordered the accelerated cleanup of fire-related debris last week to mitigate the environmental impact of harmful pollutants. Emergency measures were approved to install flood control infrastructure and expedite sediment removal in affected areas. Fire crews have also deployed sandbags in several locations, while local workers installed barriers and cleared drainage pipes and reservoirs.
Concerns about post-fire debris flows are particularly high, recalling the devastating 2018 incident in Montecito, a coastal town near Los Angeles. Back then, intense rainfall over fire-damaged hills triggered catastrophic mudslides that destroyed hundreds of homes and claimed 23 lives.
The wildfires, which have been raging across the Los Angeles metropolitan area for nearly three weeks, have resulted in at least 28 fatalities. More than 14,000 homes and structures have been damaged or destroyed, forcing over 200,000 residents to evacuate. The recovery effort to rebuild neighborhoods left in smoldering ruins is expected to cost billions of dollars.
