Debris cleanup underway as officials prepare for rain in Palisades, Eaton burn areas
Debris cleanup was underway for properties in the burned areas of the Palisades and Eaton fires and officials were preparing for the potential of mudslides and debris flows with incoming rain set to hit the Los Angeles area over the weekend, authorities said.
K-rails and sandbags were being deployed in both areas to divert those potential debris flows during rainfall, which was anticipated from Saturday to Monday, said Mark Pastrella, director of Los Angeles County Public Works.
NWS meteorologists forecast light rainfall that likely will not cause debris flows or mudslides.
The county has partnered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to begin the debris removal. The first phase, which is underway, focuses on household hazardous items, while in the second the Army Corps of Engineers will handle any other fire-related hazardous materials.
Private property owners would need to opt in to have the Army Corps of Engineers conduct debris removal from their properties, said Kathryn Barger, chairwoman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
“It is incredibly important that we get widespread participation,” Barger said. “We need private property owners to sign up for this program to maximize the benefits offered so they can move through the process swiftly and efficiently.”
The supervisor also said a portal was set up for people who want to help those affected by the fires: lacounty.gov/relief.
Firefighters continued pushing toward extinguishing the Eaton fire, which has caused destruction in Altadena, Pasadena and Sierra Madre, and the Palisades fire, which slammed Pacific Palisades, Malibu and Topanga and Mandeville canyons. They have dealt with winds and low humidity.
The Eaton fire was 91% contained as of Wednesday morning, Jan. 22, up from 89% on Tuesday. Crews upped containment of the Palisades fire to 68%, up from 65%. Containment is the percentage of the blaze’s perimeter blocked off by firefighters’ work or natural barriers such as the ocean or rocks.
A red flag warning, meaning weather conditions are such as to help fires, is in place for much of Los Angeles County until 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23. The National Weather Service said an increase in winds is expected Wednesday night and peaking Thursday morning before dying down.
Mandatory evacuations were affecting some 14,750 residents who still have homes and a curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. was still in effect for those swaths, Luna said.
The fires have combined to claim 28 lives and damaged or destroyed more than 17,000 structures, according to estimates from Cal Fire and the Angeles National Forest. The causes of the fires were under investigation.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said 59 arrests have been made for looting, burglary, curfew violations, impersonating first responders and drone violations since the fires broke out. The department was also investigating 22 active-missing persons cases.
President Donald Trump was scheduled to visit Southern California on Friday, the Associated Press reported.