L.A. fire updates: Beaches closed from Malibu to Playa del Rey because of debris runoff

The recent rainfall and increased debris from fire zones have prompted Los Angeles County public health officials to issue an advisory and close several miles of coastline from Malibu to Playa del Rey.

“Fire debris runoff and pollutants in the water and on the sand may contain toxic or carcinogenic chemicals, which can be harmful to health,” public officials said in a statement. “This includes any runoff that may flow onto or pond on the beach sand.”

The ecosystems on the American Southwest’s federal lands are hemorrhaging carbon dioxide into the atmosphere faster than any other region in the U.S., according to a recent study from the U.S. Geological Survey.

While federal land ecosystems in most states are sequestering carbon dioxide on average, California’s lost six times more than any other state during the 17-year period from 2005 to 2021 that the study analyzed.

This week’s rainstorm brought some much needed moisture to Southern California without the mudslides some feared.

But did it help reduce the fire danger that fueled this month’s unprecedented firestorm?

When the Creek fire exploded in the Angeles National Forest in 2017, suspicions quickly fell on electric power lines as the cause.

Witnesses reported seeing a snapped line on a high-voltage transmission tower in Little Tujunga Canyon around the time the fire started, and investigators focused their attention there.

Gov. Gavin Newsom is tapping Magic Johnson, Dodgers Chairman Mark Walter and 2028 Olympics organizer Casey Wasserman to lead a new private-sector initiative to support wildfire recovery in Los Angeles.

The California governor’s office said the philanthropic effort, called LA Rises, will bring together business leaders to work with city, county and state officials to support rebuilding after the devastating fires. Walter, his foundation and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation will provide up to $100 million to jump-start fundraising.

Before evacuating from her Malibu home the day the Palisades fire erupted, Cassandra Riera soaked the plants in her yard, moved flammable patio furniture inside and hooked up her private fire hydrant to two long hoses that she left coiled tightly on the ground.

Three years ago, she had spent $1,350 on the personal hydrant system and an additional $1,136 for a plumber to install it on the recommendation of her local fire brigade, which had noted that her side of the street didn’t have a public hydrant.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s plan to open a site to process Eaton fire debris near L.A. County’s foothill communities has prompted swift backlash from local leaders alarmed by the prospect of toxic waste in their backyard.

On Monday, the cities of Duarte, Azusa, Irwindale and Baldwin Park announced their joint opposition to the EPA’s plans to use Lario Park as the destination for hazardous household debris from the fire, including lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. The site is at 15701 E. Foothill Blvd. in an unincorporated area of the county adjacent to the four cities and is slated to begin receiving debris early next week.

The city of Los Angeles is planning to hire an outside consultant to handle a significant rebuilding contract for areas devastated by this month’s Palisades fire, Mayor Karen Bass said Monday.

The firm will represent the city’s interests in the wildfire recovery process, including performing damage assessments, monitoring air and water quality, interacting with various federal agencies and ensuring that the city gets as much federal reimbursement as possible, said Steve Soboroff, who was named by Bass as the city’s chief recovery officer.

The announcement came during a freewheeling half-hour walking tour in Pacific Palisades that Bass and Soboroff held for reporters and some residents Monday afternoon. The walk-and-talk was the first time Soboroff and Bass took questions together since she announced his role Jan. 17 in leading the first phase of the city’s recovery on Jan. 17.

Four Southern California Edison lines over Eaton Canyon saw a momentary increase of electrical current about the same time the destructive Eaton fire is believed to have ignited on Jan. 7, the utility told state regulators in a filing Monday.

The incident, according to the filing, happened after Edison’s Eagle Rock-Gould line — which connects to the Gould substation in La Cañada Flintridge, about five miles from the suspected start of the fire — experienced a fault, sending the increase of current across the company’s transmission lines over Eaton Canyon.

With rains beginning to subside Monday morning, most flash flood and debris flow warnings were expiring across Southern California’s burn areas, but forecasters said a chance of thunderstorms and showers would remain through the day.

The Hughes burn scar, which includes Santa Clarita, Acton and Lake Castaic, remained under a flood watch until 10 a.m., as the cold, wet system slowly moved over the region. The possibility for isolated showers will remain across the Los Angeles Basin into Tuesday.

On Monday, one more person was confirmed killed in the Los Angeles wildfires, bringing the death toll to 29.

The additional death was a Palisades fire victim who died in a hospital, according to the L.A. County medical examiner. Their identity is being withheld until family can be notified.

So far, there have been 12 confirmed deaths in the Palisades fires and 17 in the Eaton fire.

Several people are still reported missing in both fires, and officials warn that the toll may continue to rise as more damage assessments are completed.

For the first time since the devastating Palisades fire ignited on Jan. 7, all Pacific Palisades residents can now return to their homes — or what is left of them.

All remaining evacuation orders were lifted at noon Monday, with most zones converted to residents-only access. Residents were previously allowed limited access with a California Highway Patrol escort, but now they can pick up an entry pass and enter independently during noncurfew hours from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The 5 Freeway at the Grapevine has reopened following a lengthy closure due to snowfall.

“The road surface is still wet and slick,” the California Highway Patrol said, “so don’t rush or speed.”

The CHP announced the reopening around 11:30 a.m. Monday, about 11 hours afer the road was closed.

In total, 1 to 3 inches of snow fell across the Tejon Pass, as of 10 a.m. Monday, according to the National Weather Service. Not much more accumulating snow was expected Monday, though flurries are possible through Tuesday, forecasters said.

The roadway is the main route between Southern California and the Central Valley, as well as Northern California. It traverses the Tejon Pass, which reaches an elevation of 4,160 feet above sea level.

The Tejon Pass separates the Tehachapi Mountains and the San Emigdio Mountains.

While the majority of the most severe flash flood and debris flow warnings expired by Monday morning across Los Angeles County, officials said a chance for thunderstorms remained high through 10 a.m., which could bring brief but heavy downpours of rain and small hail.

The Hughes burn scar, including Santa Clarita, Acton and Lake Castaic, remained under a flood watch until mid-morning Monday as the cold, wet system continued to move through the region. The possibility for isolated showers will remain across the L.A. Basin into Tuesday.

Rain totals as of early Monday showed that much of the region received significant rainfall, though amounts were still quite variable. Parts of Los Angeles received more than an inch and a half as of 4 a.m. Monday, while other areas saw less than half an inch.

Porter Ranch had recorded the highest confirmed two-day rain total in L.A. County, according to the National Weather Service, with 1.62 inches, while Castaic had just clocked in 0.28 of an inch. Many totals across the Southland had increased considerably from Sunday night, as rain continued overnight.

Here are a few other rain totals for the region, as of 4 a.m. Monday.

Metropolitan L.A.

• Santa Monica Pier: 1.38 inches
• Bel Air: 0.93
• Culver City: 1.05
• Beverly Hills: 1.02
• Hollywood Reservoir: 0.87
• Downtown L.A.: 0.54

Valleys

• Northridge: 1.36
• Agoura Hills: 1.15 inches
• Canoga Park: 1.10
• Sepulveda Canyon: 0.89
• Hansen Dam: 0.98
• La Canada Flintridge: 0.57
• Eagle Rock Reservoir: 0.59
• Mt. Olive High School: 0.26
• Alhambra: 0.48
• Claremont: 0.72
• Newhall: 0.75

Los Angeles County’s first significant storm in more than eight months has already forced the closure of the 5 Freeway at the Grapevine, unleashed mud on roadways, and triggered the closure of Malibu’s public schools Monday due to dangerous road conditions.

There’s still concern about the potential for mudslides and rockslides in L.A. County areas recently burned by wildfire. Before 4 a.m., a severe thunderstorm capable of producing waterspouts and hail was detected near Catalina Island.

Southern California emerged from weeks of unprecedented fires, winds and smoke Monday to rain-covered streets, puddles on sidewalks and snow-capped mountains as the first storm of the season finally brought some relief from record-dry conditions.

By midmorning Monday, the heaviest rain and snowfall had mostly passed through the Southland, but cleanup and recovery efforts continued after bursts of intense downpours hit the mountains and foothills, including near some recent burn areas.

Residents whose homes were damaged or destroyed in the Palisades and Eaton fires can now sign up for debris removal on Los Angeles County’s recovery website.

The government is coordinating the cleanup in two phases. Phase 1, was launched by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday. It’s free for residents and does not require homeowners to sign up.

The Grapevine section of Interstate 5 was closed in both directions early Monday morning due to snow.

The closure took effect late Sunday night and persisted after midnight Monday. It was unclear when the Grapevine — which includes the Tejon Pass — would reopen, the California Department of Transportation said. The agency suggested using U.S. 101 as an alternate route between Los Angeles County and Central California.

“Crews working to clear snow,” Caltrans said.

“The closure will be in place for an unknown duration,” the California Highway Patrol said.

Caltrans also said a section of eastbound California 138 — in Los Angeles County’s high desert — was experiencing white-out conditions due to heavy flurries. Caltrans said to avoid California 138 between the San Bernardino County line to the junction with California 18.

A flood advisory took effect for areas in and around Los Angeles County’s burned areas early Monday morning.

“Shallow debris flows consisting of mudslides and rockslides possible,” the weather service said of the areas affected by the flood advisories and that endured recent wildfires.

Minor flooding in low-lying areas is also expected elsewhere.

Flood advisories were in effect for the following regions:

• The foothills of the San Gabriel Valley, including the southern areas of the Eaton burn scar, such as Altadena and Pasadena; and the 210 freeway corridor, including Arcadia, Sierra Madre and Glendale.

• The Palisades burn scar, which includes the areas around Pacific Palisades and Malibu, and the far western San Fernando Valley.

• A wide swath of L.A. County, including the Los Angeles Basin, the San Gabriel Valley and Universal City.

With residents anxious to return to their fire-ravaged properties, authorities are warning of the dangers of sifting through the toxic wreckage — especially without protective gear.

Hazardous items in the fire zones can include batteries, ammunition, propane tanks, pesticides, and cleaning products that can become unsafe when exposed to heat and fire. Harmful chemicals can be present in the ash in charred neighborhoods, according to experts.