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By Shamim Chowdhury
Content Reporter
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Heavy rain continued to fall across parts of Southern California Monday, offering some relief to firefighters battling multiple wildfires but also heightening the risk of toxic ash runoff in areas recently devastated by flames.
Why It Matters
The rain, which followed mudflows over the weekend, triggered flood watches in areas around the Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and Castaic Lake, where firefighters have been working to secure the aftermath of the recent fires.
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On Sunday, portions of the Pacific coast Highway in Los Angeles County were closed after mudflows hit Topanga Canyon, according to the California Department of Transportation. Snow also fell in the region's mountains.
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What To Know
Despite the dangers, the rain has been a mixed blessing. While rainfall increases the risk of mudflows, it also helped firefighters making progress on several wildfires that have ravaged the area in recent weeks.
Crews have been battling the fires amid unusually dry and windy conditions that have fueled the flames.
But officials have raised alarms about the toxic nature of the ash left behind by the fires, which contains a dangerous mix of incinerated cars, electronics, building materials, and other household items.
The ash poses significant health risks, including exposure to pesticides, asbestos, lead, and plastics.
Newsweek contacted the U.S. National Weather Service by email on Monday for comment.
How Contained Are the California Wildfires?
The Palisades Fire, the largest of the blazes, was 90 percent contained as of Sunday.
The fire, which started on Jan. 7, destroyed thousands of homes and claimed at least 11 lives.
The Eaton Fire near Altadena, which has killed at least 16 people, was 98 percent contained, and the Hughes Fire north of Los Angeles was 95 percent contained.
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What Risks Will Continued Rain Bring to Southern California?
In San Diego County, firefighters also made headway against the smaller Border 2 Fire, which had been burning in a remote area near the U.S.-Mexico border.
While much of the region was expected to receive about an inch of rain over the next few days, the National Weather Service cautioned that localized cloudbursts could create dangerous mud and debris flows, particularly in areas recently scorched by flames.
Amid these concerns, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order last week to speed up cleanup efforts and mitigate the environmental impact of fire-related pollutants.
LA County supervisors also approved an emergency motion to install flood-control infrastructure and remove sediment from fire-damaged areas.
What People Are Saying
Joe Sirard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard, warned that the rain posed a serious risk to these fresh burn zones. He said "All these fresh burns are very susceptible to rapid runoff. What that means is we have a fairly high danger of mud and debris flows once we get above those thresholds."
Meteorologist Carol Smith warned on social media that "if one of those showers happens to park itself over a burn area, that could be enough to create debris flows."
What Happens Now
With the continued rain and risk of strong winds, authorities are urging residents in impacted areas to wear protective gear during cleanup efforts.
This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press
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