As firefighters brace for yet another round of strong Santa Ana winds over the next several days, prompting high wind warnings, dozens of residents and businesses owners impacted by the Eaton Fire attended a community meeting in Pasadena.
Three active fires in Los Angeles neared full containment Sunday, as the region receives much-needed rain that has produced flood and mudslide warnings lasting through Monday. Saturday, 4:00 p.m. PST Cal Fire data marked the Palisades Fire at 87% containment, the Eaton Fire at 95% containment and the Hughes Fire at 92% containment.
Officials closed part of Pacific Coast Highway in the Palisades fire area on Sunday, Caltrans said, as rain poured down across the Los Angeles area and burn scars in Southern California were under a flood watch that will last until 4 p.m. Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
The rain that is expected to hit the scorched Los Angeles landscape this weekend may bring relief to the fire fights, but it could also bring flash floods and mudslides. Although forecasts show that the risk is relatively low, local officials are taking the warnings seriously.
Jan. 22, 10:30 a.m. PST Cal Fire data marked the Palisades Fire at 68% containment and the Eaton Fire at 91% containment, listing no other active fires in Los Angeles as a red flag warning is in effect for much the region until Friday evening.
Concerns about predicted rainfall this weekend following Southern California’s massive wildfires have prompted meteorologists to issue flood watches beginning Sunday. There is an up to 25% chance of thunderstorms around the region through Monday,
Fires in the Inland Empire and Orange County that broke out this week were stopped from becoming more dangerous because of the extra resources.
The Hughes Fire has now burned 8,096 acres in Los Angeles and Ventura counties since igniting late Wednesday morning near Castaic Lake, according to Cal Fire. More than 24,00 people have been ordered to evacuate due to the Hughes Fire. Another 30,000 people are in evacuation warning zones.
The deadly Eaton Fire in the Pasadena and Altadena areas was almost fully surrounded Monday, and fears of flooding or debris flows from weekend rains were easing as the storm system moved off to the east.
Forecasters have issued a flood watch Sunday for the devastated Eaton Fire area in Altadena as firefighters got the massive burn area almost fully contained at 98%, by fire lines and continued to root out hot spots.
As parts of fire-ravaged Southern California begin to recover, Los Angeles County is sending out mental health workers to help fire victims heal from trauma.
Dozens of people are believed to have died in the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have burned down whole swaths of communities