Rain has fallen in Southern California after weeks of windy and dry weather, which is expected to help firefighters responding to multiple wildfires, but potentially heavy rain on burned hillsides could cause toxic ash runoff.

Los Angeles County crews spent the past week removing vegetation, shoring up slopes and reinforcing roads in areas devastated by the Palisades and Eaton fires earlier this month.

Most of the region was forecast to receive around an inch of precipitation over several days, but the National Weather Service said “the threat is high enough to prepare for the worst-case scenario” of localized cloudbursts leading to mud and debris sliding down hills.

“So the problem would be if one of those showers happens to park itself over a burn area,” weather service meteorologist Carol Smith said. “That could be enough to create debris flows.”

TRUMP MEETS WITH CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS, FIRE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS TO SEE LA WILDFIRE DAMAGE FIRST HAND

Rainfall began late Saturday and was expected to increase Sunday and potentially last into early Tuesday, according to forecasters. Flood watches were issued for some burn areas, while the mountains were expected to receive snow.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat, issued an executive order last week to expedite cleanup efforts and reduce the environmental impacts of fire-related pollutants. Los Angeles County supervisors also approved an emergency motion to put into place flood-control infrastructure and expedite and remove sediment in areas impacted by the fires.

Firefighters put out hot spots, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025 in Camarillo, California, where the Laguna Fire broke out. (AP)

Officials said ash in recent burn zones was a toxic mix of incinerated cars, electronics, batteries, building materials, paints, furniture and other household items. The ash contains pesticides, asbestos, plastics and lead. Officials urged residents to wear protective gear when they clean up.

Concerns over potential debris flows after a fire have been particularly high since 2018, when the town of Montecito faced mudslides after a downpour hit mountain slopes that were burned bare. A total of 23 people died and hundreds of homes were damaged.

COMPTON COWBOYS STEP UP DURING LOS ANGELES WILDFIRES TO RESCUE ENDANGERED HORSES

Firefighters put out hot spots, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025 in Camarillo, California, where the Laguna Fire broke out. (AP)

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The weekend’s wet weather in Southern California ended weeks of dangerous winds and reduced humidity, but several wildfires were still burning in the area on Saturday, including the Palisades and Eaton fires, which killed at least 28 people and destroyed more than 14,000 structures. The Palisades Fire was 81% contained on Saturday and the Eaton Fire was 95% contained.

Meanwhile, in northern Los Angeles County, firefighters made significant progress against the Hughes Fire, which forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate when it erupted on Wednesday in mountains near Lake Castaic.

There was little containment of the Border 2 Fire in San Diego County as it burned through a remote area of the Otay Mountain Wilderness near the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Southern
California is bracing for rain, which is expected to help firefighters combat
the multiple wildfires ravaging the region. As these fires continue to
devastate communities, one family is struggling to rebuild after losing
everything.

Frederick and
Frances Caple, originally from the Carolinas, spent 58 years calling Altadena,
California, home. That is, until January 7th, when wildfires forced them to
leave everything behind.

“Well I just
couldn’t believe it,” Frederick Caple said. “If anybody had asked me
if this would happen, I would say no.”

The fire quickly
consumed their home. “By the next morning, our house was gone,” Frances Caple
recalled.

The Caples’ story
is one of both loss and resilience. While they raised their children in
California, their roots stretch back to the Carolinas. Frederick graduated from
North Carolina Central University, and Frances from Benedict College in South
Carolina.

When news broke of
their loss, a GoFundMe campaign was set up to help the Caples recover what they
had lost.

“We just have
such a loving family and friends that we’ve developed over the years,”
Frances said. “Plus the fact that somebody said the other day, ‘You’re not
in this alone.’ This was a very, very devastating fire.”

The Caples are now
living in San Diego with family, two hours away from the remains of their home.
Though the loss is overwhelming, their faith remains unshaken.

“We’re Christian.
And no matter what kind of tragedy comes, we know that the Lord is blessing
us,” Frederick  said. “We’ll be able to stand whatever comes.”

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a flood watch for recently burned areas in Southern California from Sunday at 4 p.m. to Monday at 4 p.m.

The watch covers several major burn scars, including the Eaton, Palisades, Franklin, Hughes, and Bridge fire areas, amid increasing concern about potential debris flows.

Newsweek has reached out to the NWS via email for comment on Saturday afternoon.

Why It Matters

Southern California faces its first significant rain of the winter following a series of devastating wildfires that have left the region vulnerable to flooding.

The Palisades fire, now 81 percent contained, has burned more than 23,400 acres, destroyed 6,809 structures and claimed 11 lives.

The Eaton fire has proven even more destructive, burning over 14,000 acres, destroying 9,418 structures, and resulting in 17 fatalities despite reaching 95 percent containment.

The Hughes fire, while smaller at 10,400 acres and 87 percent containment, adds to the region’s vulnerable burn areas.

What To Know

According to the NWS, rainfall totals will vary significantly across the region, with mountain areas receiving up to two inches while other areas may see as little as a quarter inch.

Regular rainfall rates will typically range from one-tenth to one-quarter inch per hour, though isolated areas could experience rates up to three-quarters of an inch per hour—sufficient to trigger debris flows in burn areas.

The probability of significant flash flooding and debris flows in the most vulnerable areas has doubled from the initial forecast, now standing at 10 percent to 20 percent.

Additional hazards include possible thunderstorms, small hail, and wind gusts reaching 60 mph in the Antelope Valley foothills.

What Is Debris Flow?

Debris flows represent the most dangerous form of landslides, consisting of powerful mixtures of mud, rocks, boulders, trees, and sometimes even homes or vehicles, according to the NWS.

While often called mudslides or mudflows, debris flows pose a unique threat due to their devastating power. They can occur during intense rainfall after wildfires, requiring only a brief period of heavy rain—about half an inch in an hour—rather than prolonged precipitation.

Their unpredictable nature and rapid speed make them particularly hazardous, as they can outpace both pedestrians and vehicles.

Traditional protective measures like sandbags and retaining walls prove ineffective against these powerful flows, making evacuation the only reliable safety measure.

What People Are Saying

National Weather Service Office in Oxnard: “The threat is high enough to prepare for the worst-case scenario.”

Ryan Kittell, National Weather Service Meteorologist told the LA Times: “They’re some of the freshest burn scars. They’re close to communities and/or vulnerable infrastructure. And the orientation of the terrain would favor those areas, in particular, having the higher chances, the higher potentials, for those higher totals and rainfall intensities.”

Alex Tardy, National Weather Service San Diego Meteorologist: “This is a slow-moving storm, so it’s going to be stubborn. It’s going to hang around. It’s going to send waves of moisture through Monday. So, I think that’s really going to add up to significant rain and snow.”

What Happens Next

The NWS urges residents to avoid recently burned areas during the high-risk period, particularly from Sunday afternoon through Monday.

Emergency preparedness recommendations include maintaining adequate supplies in case of road access disruption.