Mudslides prompt evacuations in La Canada-Flintridge

A surprisingly fierce rainstorm overnight and Saturday morning is prompting evacuations in the La Cañada Flintridge burn area, centered at the top of Ocean View Boulevard.

Several homes in the area have been damaged by mudslides, cars have been swept down Ocean View in a torrent of debris and mud has flowed nearly a mile to Foothill Boulevard.

No injuries have been reported.

Fire officials were expected to go door to door warning residents, and they plan to use the reverse 911 warning system to make notifications. Officials will escort residents down mud-slicked roads. This follows several frenzied hours this morning in which work crews bulldozed muddied roads, clearing the way for safe evacuations. Fire officials said they are focusing on areas evacuated during last month’s rainstorms.

The rain was so intense at times early this morning that residents reported hearing thunderous sounds, not knowing whether it was real thunder of the roar of mudslides.