Incoming rain brings mudslides threat to burn zones

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Last updated: Sunday, January 26, 2025 7:10PM GMT
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LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A flood watch will go into effect Sundy in recent Los Angeles County wildfire areas, as the first of what's expected to be three days of rain arrives and authorities switch gears from worrying about fires to possible landslides.

The National Weather Service issued a flood watch from 10 a.m. Sunday to 4 p.m. Monday for the Eaton, Palisades, Franklin, Bridge and Hughes burn scars.

Although the rainfall totals aren't expected to be that large, the terrain in the fire areas is especially vulnerable to movement after the devastating blazes.

City News Service, Inc. contributed to this report.

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Jan 23, 2025, 7:24 PM

Hughes Fire map shows evacuation zones in Castaic

Mandatory evacuations were issued Wednesday in the Castaic area due to the fast-spreading Hughes Fire.

CAL FIRE's map shows the evacuation zones.

Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for the following zones, according to CAL FIRE:

CAS-BITTERCANYON
CAS-CASTAICLAKE
CAS-CHARLIECANYON
LAC-E008
LAC-E016.

Evacuation warnings were issued for the following zones:

CAS-BISCAILUZ
CAS-CAMBRIDGE
CAS-GOLDENSTATE
CAS-GREENHILL
CAS-HASLEY
CAS-HILLCREST
CAS-INDUSTRY
CAS-LIVEOAK
CAS-OAKCANYON
CAS-PARADISERANCH
CAS-RIDGE
CAS-ROMERO
CAS-SLOAN
CAS-VALVERDE
GOR-E004
GOR-HUNGRYVALLEY
LAC-E005
LAC-E009-B
LAC-E011-A
LAC-E017
LAC-E018
LAC-E029
LAC-E030
LAC-FRANCISQUITO
SCL-BLACKPINE
SCL-CALEX
SCL-DECORO
SCL-KELLYJOHNSON
SCL-MOUNTAINVIEW
SCL-PACIFICCREST
SCL-RANCHOTESORO
SCL-REYESABODE
SCL-REYESADOBE
SCL-RIONORTE
SCL-RYE
SCL-TESORODELAVALLE
SCL-WESTHILLS
SLC-REYESADOBE
SLC-STERLING

Road closures

- Ridge Route Rd at Lake Hughes
- Ridge Route Rd at Templin Hwy
- Lake Hughes at Pine Cyn
- Dry Gulch at San Francisquito Cyn Rd
- I-5 NB at Parker Rd Off Ramp and I-5 NB at Lake Hughes Rd off ramp will be shut down.

Evacuation shelters
- Evacuation center: College of the Canyons East Gym at 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91355

A map of the Hughes Fire shows the multiple evacuation zones near Castaic Lake north of the Santa Clarita area.
Jan 22, 2025, 1:26 AM GMT

Death toll in SoCal wildfires rises to 28

The L.A. County Medical Examiner has attributed an additional death to the Palisades Fire, raising the combined death toll from the Palisades and Eaton fires to 28.

As of Tuesday evening, the medical examiner has tied 17 deaths to the Eaton Fire and 11 to the Palisades Fire.

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Jan 21, 2025, 11:06 PM GMT

Schwarzenegger says he's donating $1 million for wildfire relief

Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday announced he's donating $1 million toward wildfire relief efforts in Los Angeles County, and the former California governor unveiled a new "L.A. Strong" T-shirt whose proceeds will also be donated.

In a social media post, Schwarzenegger said the $1 million will be divided between the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, the California Fire Foundation, and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles.

"I don't like when companies or rich people ask their fans to make their donations for them," he wrote.

The T-shirt features an image of Schwarzenegger posing during his bodybuilding days.

"The shirt might look familiar - it's based on an LA classic they sell to tourists on the Venice boardwalk, except I can use my image," he added.

Michelle Fisher Image
Jan 21, 2025, 7:20 PM GMT

La Cañada Flintridge shows gratitude for pre-deployed firefighters

La Cañada Flintridge was one of several communities that was forced to evacuate during the Eaton Fire, and on Monday residents threw a pop-up appreciation party for fighters who were pre-deployed this week ahead of another round of powerful winds.

"I've been doing this since 1997 and I've never seen a show of support like this," Cal Fire Battalion Chief Joshua Rivers told ABC7.

The impromptu event was organized at La Cañada High School, where pizza, ice cream, snacks, and even takeout food from a Porto's Bakery were served in the gymnasium.

Community members showed their gratitude to pre-deployed firefighters by organizing a pop-up appreciation party -- complete with pizza and ice cream -- at La Cañada High School.

"The whole city -- everybody's trying to help," said Cynthia Xue, one of the residents who donated food.

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Jan 21, 2025, 7:06 PM GMT

Former NOLA mayor to play 'key role' in LA rebuilding efforts

Mitch Landrieu, the former mayor of New Orleans who helped rebuild the city after Hurricane Katrina, will be playing a "key role" in Los Angeles' recovery from the wildfires, Mayor Karen Bass announced Tuesday.

During a press conference, Bass said Landrieu would be touring the Palisades Fire area alongside Councilwoman Traci Park and newly-appointed Chief Recovery Officer Steve Soboroff.

"I'm making sure this is an all-hands-on-deck recovery," said Bass.

Mitch Landrieu, the former mayor of New Orleans who helped rebuild the city after Hurricane Katrina, will be playing a "key role" in Los Angeles' recovery from the wildfires, Mayor Karen Bass announced Tuesday.

Landrieu took office as New Orleans was still recovering from Katrina and in the midst of the BP oil spill. He also served as the federal infrastructure czar.

With rain possibly arriving this weekend, Bass issued an emergency order today to shore up burn areas and prevent hazardous runoff in areas affected by the fires.

Park said, "We've never seen a burn scar in an urban area of this scope and magnitude."

"The burn scar of the Palisades Fire not only sits feet from the ocean itself, but already on hillsides that are already prone to slide and which have already absorbed a tremendous amount of water from firefighting broken pipes and melted pools," she said.

The order mobilizes City Public Works crews to clear and remove vegetation, shore up hillsides, reinforce roads and clear debris from neighborhoods and areas that were burned.

According to the National Weather Service, rains could hit the region as early as Saturday.

"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,'' Bass said in a statement.

Crews are expected to install reinforced concrete barriers, lay down sandbags and clear debris, according to the mayor.

City News Service, Inc. contributed to this report.