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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Here's how the news is developing.
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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.
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Jan 22, 2025, 5:46 PM GMT

Chef who lost home in wildire keeps his spirits up by feeding others

The Pacific Palisades home where chef Daniel Shemtob and his wife dreamed of raising a family is now nothing more than a cratered pit of twisted metal and rubble. Gone are the gourmet kitchen, the nursery with the baby giraffe and elephant wallpaper, the half-century-old olive trees in the yard.

But even as the Los Angeles-area wildfires continue to burn, Shemtob has been soothing his soul by dishing out free, foil-wrapped breakfast burritos and tacos from his award-winning food truck to first-responders and weary evacuees.

It would be easy for the two-time Food Network competition winner to dwell on the loss of the home, which he and his wife, Elyse, moved into about eight months ago, leasing with an option to buy. Yet he smiles, thinking about the people he has met through the food giveaways.

World Central Kitchen Chef Corp member Daniel Shemtob smiles as he looks out from the service window of his food truck, The Lime Truck.
World Central Kitchen Chef Corp member Daniel Shemtob smiles as he looks out from the service window of his food truck, The Lime Truck.

One man was so happy with his sweet and spicy steak taco that he declared it the first time he smiled since his home burned. Another person loved the simple cheese quesadilla the chef made for him so much, he came back for more and brought six family members.

Then there was the National Guardsman who lent a sympathetic ear one cold morning.

"He sat and wanted to hear my story while he ate his breakfast burrito," said Shemtob, 36. "That was very cathartic."

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Jan 22, 2025, 7:31 AM GMT

Evacuation warning lifted for Jurupa Valley fire

A brush fire erupted in the riverbed of the Santa Ana River in Jurupa Valley and quickly grew to about 38 acres.

The fire was reported around 5 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Van Buren Boulevard and Clay Street, near the Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter, according to CalFire.

CalFire initially said the Clay Fire was at two acres and burning at a slow rate of speed in the river bottom. No evacuation orders were issued, but an evacuation warning was in place for a couple of hours.

CalFire announced around 11 p.m. that the evacuation warning had been lifted, but cautioned that crews were still working in the area. The fire is 40% contained.

Firefighters battled a brush fire in Jurupa Valley that grew to about 38 acres.
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.