California Storms Force New Evacuation Orders at Camp Fire Burn Scar



California Wildfire Burn Scars Pose Deadly Threat

Meteorologist Ari Sarsalari describes how burn scars can easily turn into dangerous and deadly mudslides.


Officials ordered all residents of a community northeast of Paradise, California, to leave their homes and get to higher ground as a series of storm systems were expected to cause issues at a burn scar left behind by the most devastating wildfire in state history.

The Butte County Sheriff's Office issued an evacuation warning for the entire community of Pulga starting at 10 p.m. local time Tuesday night and lasting until Thursday morning because of the danger from possible flooding and debris flows at the Camp Fire burn scar. The evacuation warning did not include the town of Paradise, where more than 18,000 structures were destroyed and 86 people died in the blaze that burned in November.

"If flooding occurs, this can quickly become a dangerous and life-threatening situation," the sheriff's office said in the warning.

Winter weather also caused issues in the higher elevations. Multiple spinouts along Interstate 80 temporarily closed the eastbound lanes over Donner Pass in the Sierra Nevada Tuesday afternoon as the third of a parade of storm systems pushed inland.

Caltrans announced that the interstate had reopened about an hour later once the roadway was cleared. I-80 near Lake Tahoe also saw traffic come to a halt due heavy snowfall in the area.

Evacuations were also ordered in Southern California for the second day in a row, forcing out residents threatened by mudslides and debris flows.

Officials in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties issued mandatory evacuation orders, which went into effect Tuesday morning.

The evacuations in Los Angeles County became mandatory at 8 a.m. local time and impacted residents in a portion of the area burned by the Woolsey Fire in November. The fire burned more than 90,000 acres in and around Malibu, destroyed 1,500 structures and killed three people.

Santa Barbara County evacuations went into effect at 10 a.m. local time and impacted residents hit by three fires – the Sherpa, Whittier and Thomas fires – in the last three years. A map of the evacuations can be found here.

“I urge everybody to please assess your personal situation,” Malibu City Manager Reva Feldman told the Los Angeles Times. “You cannot escape mud flow. You cannot fight it. You need to be very careful and think this through. Please think this through and take care of your family.”

Schools were closed in Malibu, the L.A. Times also reported.

On Monday morning, officials in Riverside County issued a "MUST GO" order for neighborhoods in the burn areas of August's Holy Fire, stating the risk of debris flows at a moment's notice. Those mandatory evacuations have since been downgraded to voluntary evacuations, though officials warned residents there to remain on alert.

Interstate 5 at Grapevine was shut down in both directions as snowy conditions from the second of four systems to hit California made for dangerous travel in the area Monday afternoon, the California Highway Patrol announced. The highway reopened later Monday.









Mandatory evacuations were ordered for several areas of Malibu and Ventura County hit hard by the Woolsey Fire that are now in danger of mudslides.
Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies went door-to-door Tuesday to tell residents they should get out before the next round of rain hits Southern California Tuesday. Heavy rainfall sent mud and debris into the lanes of Pacific Coast Highway, causing it to be closed for several hours.
Authorities are particularly concerned with areas near steep slopes or drainage areas.
In Malibu, mandatory evacuations were ordered for: Corral Canyon/El Nido, Escondido/Old Chimney, Escondido Drive/Latigo Canyon, Malibu West/Trancas Canyon, Malibou Lake, all of Ramirez Canyon Road and adjacent streets and the Paradise Cove Mobile Home Park and Restaurant.
Malibu’s four public schools were also closed Tuesday.


In Ventura County, several neighborhoods were evacuated including: Bell Canyon, Oak Park (specific homes adjacent to the hillsides),
unincorporated Thousand Oaks, Sage Mountain Senior Living Facility, South Coast of Ventura County/Community of Malibu, Matilija / Wheeler Springs / North fork (extending along Oso Road) and residences east of Highway 33/Casitas Springs.
Voluntary evacuations were in effect for Ventura City and La Conchita.
Meanwhile, in Burbank, mandatory evacuations were effect for Country Club Drive above Via Montana in the La Tuna Fire burn area.
Evacuations centers were set up at the Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center, 27040 Malibu Hills Road in Agoura, and at Santa Monica High School’s South Gym, 601 Pico Blvd. in Santa Monica. Large animals that need shelter will be accepted at Pierce College, 6201 Winnetka Ave., in Woodland Hills, and the Hansen Dam Equestrian Center, 11127 Orcas Avenue, in Lakeview Terrace.