There’s a new race against time caused by the wind and burn scars in the Palisades and Eaton fires: Removing the debris.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday issued an executive order to fast-track the debris removal from the scarred areas. The two fires have consumed nearly 40,000 acres and destroyed or damaged 12,000 structures.
Once bustling streets have been reduced to piles of blackened debris for blocks, prompting concern about hazardous materials and other debris from the burned properties, and the impact if winter storms bring rainfall to the areas.
“Removing the debris generated by these devastating fires, with thousands of destroyed or damaged structures located in disparate parts of Los Angeles County, presents a monumental challenge,” Newsom’s executive order said.
If not dealt with quickly, according to the governor, it could result in damaging debris flows, mudslides and flash floods that could harm surrounding communities.
The concerns are shared by experts watching how weather patterns could impact the burn scars.
“There’s absolutely a concern with it,” said Bryan Lewis, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “With these fires and burn scars, water essentially just runs over the top of it. It can’t be saturated. It runs over the top of the land without any impediment with it, and can carry anything in its way with it.”
In the not-too-distant past the Thomas fire devastated Santa Barbara and Ventura counties in December 2017. Post-fire mudslides caused by winter storms in January 2018 led to major damage, claiming 23 more lives and displacing tens of thousands of residents in Montecito and nearby communities.
In his executive declaration, Newsom said historical data suggested that significant winter rainstorms “are likely to impact the Greater Los Angeles Area in the next few months,” and complicate a tenuous situation for communities impacted by the fire, as well as communities downhill and downstream.
As it stands, the two largest blazes have left burn scars in the Palisades, Malibu, Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre.
Newsom’s order called for the Office of Emergency Services to coordinate a plan with Los Angeles County, FEMA and the cities of L.A., Malibu, Pasadena, Sierra Madre and other potentially impacted cities to put debris removal on the fast track.
The plan would include contracting with firms to remove the debris.
Other state entities including the Geological Survey, the Conservation Corps, Cal Fire, and Fish and Wildlife, have also been deployed to come up with plans to reduce the risk of floods and debris flow.
Newsom’s fast-track on debris comes amid a larger push by local and state officials to remove red tape in efforts to rebuild and recover from the fires.
Complicating matters is the looming threat of more fires. Officials want to remove debris but they have to prepare for the risky conditions that could bring more fires early this week.
A rare variation of a high-wind warning has been issued for the northern San Fernando Valley and eastern Ventura County that could have ripple effects on the massive wildfires burning in Palisades and Altadena.
A “Particularly Dangerous Situation” that could cause fires to spread rapidly is possible starting around 4 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14, and lasting until about noon on Wednesday, the National Weather Service said.
The winds, blowing from the northeast, are expected to be particularly strong in the western San Gabriel Mountains/5 Freeway corridor; the northern San Fernando Valley, mainly in the 118 and 210 freeway corridors; the mountains in Santa Susana Pass and Ventura County; and in Ventura County mainly near Simi Valley, Moorpark and Santa Paula.
Wind gusts of 55 mph to 70 mph are possible.
Lewis said that such conditions, with no rain in the forecast for the next seven to 10 days, could complicate matters in the coming weeks.
There’s not only the rubble created by the fires, but the impact of the windstorm that preceded the fires.
Across Southern California, in areas most impacted by last week’s extreme winds, there are mounds of downed trees, fences, branches, broken swing sets, gates and lawn furniture.
Residents in the areas of the Eaton fire, in Pasadena and Altadena, can see it everywhere, strewn across front yards and lining city streets.
Last week’s windstorm left a year’s worth of green waste debris in just two days, Pasadena officials said this week.
While collection of this waste has begun, officials warned it will take at least six to eight weeks to clean up citywide.
City officials were directing residents with debris other than green waste, to contact a trash hauler approved by the city.
Officials said residents can help by placing their green waste — branches, bushes, leaves, grass clippings — in their yard waste container or on the street next to the curb.
They urged people to not include any other debris aside from yard waste, and to not block driveways or neighbors with debris.
Many have not waited and jumped into action immediately.
The Pasadena Community Job Center, which connects day laborers to jobs throughout the community, has been spearheading clean-up efforts for days now.
Leading dozens of community volunteers, day laborers have been working in parks and neighborhoods to remove brush, fallen branches and debris that the Santa Ana winds swept up.
Hundreds of local volunteers have shown up to the days-long cleanups that have no end in sight. They have been diverted into groups led by day laborers who’ve seen the fires impacting their day-to-day lives.
Freelance writer Amancai Biraben and staff writer Brian Rokos contributed to this article.