Parking restrictions ordered for hillsides

Though rainfall on Friday and Saturday has so far had little effect on Station fire burn areas at risk for debris flow, forecasts of continued downpours throughout the weekend have prompted officials to order parking restrictions in hillside neighborhoods north of Foothill Boulevard.

Residents in Station fire burn areas have been ordered not to leave vehicles parked on the street or risk having them towed away by law enforcement.

The Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station issued the parking restrictions Saturday through a reverse 911 message to residents in burn areas and are now patrolling the hillsides to make sure vehicles have been moved, said Sgt. Debra Herman.

Deputies will knock on doors to further inform residents of parking restrictions in neighborhoods where cars remain parked on the street.

No other restrictions were in effect as of 8:30 p.m. Saturday, but clearing the roadway is a precautionary measure to allow emergency vehicle access if necessary.

“We’re keeping a real close eye on everything. It all depends on what the weather does,” said Herman.

Conditions today prompted officials to raise the hillside debris-flow alert level from green to yellow.

Yellow status calls for the removal of vehicles and other objects, such as trash cans, from the right of way and advises residents to monitor weather conditions. No evacuation orders or entry restrictions are in effect.

If conditions were to worsen to orange alert status, voluntary evacuation orders would go into effect and residents would have to sign liability waivers to stay in their homes or return to them after leaving. At red alert status, mandatory evacuations would go into effect and residents would be prohibited from returning to their homes.