Support for LAist comes from
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Stay Connected
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Listen

Share This

Climate and Environment

Altadena preps for the potential of heavy rain and mudslides, as other concerns persist

A man in a beanie carries burlap bags on his shoulder.
A man grabs burlap bags at Fire Station 12's sand distribution site in Altadena
(
Evan Jacoby
/
LAist
)

With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today . 

Heavy rain is possible for much of the L.A. region starting Sunday afternoon and lasting until Monday, bringing threats of mudslides to recent burn areas, particularly around the Eaton Fire.

The forecasted rains are much needed after what is so far the driest winter on record.

But combining water with dirt and debris makes burn scars vulnerable to landslides. After the Bobcat Fire tore through the San Gabriels in 2020, huge swaths of treeless hillside were swept away during winter storms.

If the forecast holds, Altadena could experience something similar.

Support for LAist comes from

On Sunday morning, Altadena residents were taking advantage of free sandbags available to prepare for the rain.

A man in a beanie and down coat grabs burlap bags.
A man grabs burlap bags at Fire Station 12's sand distribution site in Altadena
(
Evan Jacoby
/
LAist
)

“We have pre-deployed strike teams and search and rescue task forces in the area to deal with any excessive rain or mud and debris flow,” Fire Captain Joshua Swaney said.

Residents can find sandbag distribution sites at Altadena’s three county fire stations and at Loma Alta Park.

Firefighters have also set up barriers of K-rails along vulnerable sections of the foothills to help reduce the chance of mudflows. They hope this will protect homes and infrastructure in the event of heavy rainfall.

Bikes parked outside of a burned out building
Bikes parked outside of a burned out building near Altadena’s Fire Station 11.
(
Evan Jacoby
/
LAist
)

Support for LAist comes from

Other concerns

Meanwhile, much of Altadena remains a grizzly scene. Lonely chimney stacks poke out through former gardens, and burned trees are some of the only indications of property lines. Many streetlights remain without power and have been replaced with mid-road stop signs.

California’s National Guard has armored Humvees stationed at several major intersections. Two guard members who did not provide their first names said they are on standby to help the fire department if flood damage gets out of hand, but that’s currently not their main concern.

“We're mainly here to deter looters from coming around the area,” said California National Guard Specialist Galvez.

Another guard member, Sergeant Press, said they had already interrupted would-be thieves.

“One of the tow truck drivers said a couple of guys tried to loot some of his stuff, but luckily we were able to scare them off,” Press said.

Homes are at risk because some evacuations are still in place — and many areas are still unsafe to return to.

Support for LAist comes from
A 'We Love Altadena, Not For Sale' sign pinned to a fence of a parking lot with several burnt cars
A “We Love Altadena, Not For Sale” sign pinned to a fence of a parking lot with several burnt cars.
(
Evan Jacoby
/
LAist
)

At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.

But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.

We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.

Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist