Fire-scarred areas prone to flooding
Neighborhoods burned in the recent Topanga fire in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, including Hidden Hills, Oak Park and Simi Valley, will be highly susceptible to flash floods and “debris flows” during rainstorms, according to the National Weather Service and the U.S. Geological Survey.
Officials warned that areas at the mouths of the burned canyons, and roads that cross them, could be vulnerable during short periods of moderate to heavy rainfall.
A statement released by the agencies stated: “Rainfall that is normally absorbed by vegetation can run off almost instantly. This causes creeks and drainage areas to flood much sooner during a storm, and with more water than is normal. In addition, the soils in a ‘burn scar’ are highly erodible, so floodwaters can contain significant amounts of ash, mud, boulders and vegetation.”
For more information on post-fire debris flows and what to do if you live near a recently burned area, go to landslides.usgs.gov/advisories.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
