Evacuation order lifted for Orange County's Bond Fire burn area after threat of potential flooding
SILVERADO CANYON, Calif. (KABC) -- All evacuation orders for recent burn areas in Orange County and Duarte have been lifted after a bout of wet weather threatened possible flash flooding and mudflows in some of Southern California's mountain communities.
The Orange County Sheriff's Department initially announced the order, which took effect Tuesday morning, for Silverado, Williams and Modjeska canyons in the Bond Fire burn area. The order was lifted Wednesday morning.
The National Weather Service had issued a flash flood watch that expired at Wednesday at 7 a.m. for the storm.
"In any type of rain event here in the canyon area, our greatest concern is public safety," said Sgt. Scott Streinle. "When we have substantial rain flow, that also means we could have a substantial mudflow."
On Monday, the city of Duarte announced a mandatory evacuation order for 25 homes in the Fish Fire burn scar beginning at 11 p.m. due to the impending storm and danger of debris flows.
Several streets were temporarily closed and Duarte Transit Service was suspended in the impact area.
The evacuation order was canceled at 10 p.m. Tuesday and authorities moved the Fish Fire Impact Area from a red to a yellow alert, said Victoria Rocha, the assistant to Duarte's city manager.
Flash flood warnings were issued for mountain areas, especially parts of Orange County left scarred by the Bond and Silverado fires.
Los Angeles County mountains, Lancaster, Castaic, Palmdale, Pomona, Valencia, Santa Clarita, El Monte, Acton, East Los Angeles, San Gabriel, Pasadena, Newhall and Mount Wilson are under flood watches.
Back in September, heavy rains caused flash flooding that sent mud into homes in the Yucaipa area, destroying structures and even businesses.
Residents were left to clean up the mess left behind. Many roads were blocked with mud and electricity was knocked out for many homes.
Many of those same areas were bracing for another round on Monday. A drying trend is expected for the latter half of the week.
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City News Service contributed to this report.
