
Heavy rain pummels slide-prone Southern California as crashes close roads in the Northwest
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A swift debris flow swept a Los Angeles Fire Department vehicle off the Pacific Coast Highway and into the ocean as heavy rain fell across Southern California on Thursday, creating deluges of water and mud on roads at the bottom of hillsides left barren by recent wildfires.
One member of the fire department was in the vehicle when it went into the water in Malibu and was able to exit with minor injuries, department spokesperson Erik Scott said on the social platform X.
In Pacific Palisades, one intersection of the highway was submerged in at least 3 feet (91 centimeters) of sludge, with some drivers trying to force their way through and police officers pushing one vehicle through the muck. Bulldozers worked to clear the roads not far from where just weeks ago they moved abandoned cars after people fleeing last month’s wildfires got stuck in traffic and fled on foot.
In north Altadena, a road near the Eaton Fire burn scar was also submerged by 3 feet (91 centimeters) of mud, vegetation and trees as a flood of water overcame concrete blocks put in place to prevent such debris flows. The area was mostly deserted.