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Toddler dies and homes damaged as heavy rain causes flooding and mudslides
A mudslide occurred in the Forest Falls community of San Bernardino County on the night of September 18, 2025.
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San Bernardino County Fire Department
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via Facebook
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Heavy rain caused by the remnants of Tropical Storm Mario resulted in at least one death, as well as flooding and mudslides Thursday in San Bernardino County.
In Barstow, a car was swept off the road at about 7:15 p.m. The driver, Brandon Padilla Aguilera, was rescued by the Barstow Fire Department. His 2-year-old son, Xavier Padilla Aguilera, was carried away by the rushing water and died. In a Facebook post Friday, the city said authorities searched for the boy for 20 hours before finding the body.
"We extend our deepest condolences to those affected by this tragedy," the city wrote. It added an acknowledgement of first responders and volunteers "who worked around the clock in challenging conditions."
A 2-year-old has died after his father's car was swept off the road Thursday in Barstow.
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Barstow Police Department
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South of Barstow, in the San Bernardino Mountains, debris swept through the Potato Canyon, Oak Glen and Forest Falls communities — which lie north of Beaumont and south of Big Bear Lake — starting at about 4 p.m. Thursday, according to the San Bernardino County Fire Department. Multiple flash flood warnings were issued by the National Weather Service, as rainfall rates reached 1.5 inches per hour. More than 2 inches of rain fell across parts of the area.
County officials announced the toll of the damage Monday. Fourteen homes were damaged, with three classified as destroyed, the San Bernardino County Fire Department reported on social media.
Light moisture is possible early this week.
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Dangerous waters
The damage is a reminder of how powerful and fast-moving storms and their aftermath can be.
Check out some of the footage captured after the rain, and keep reading for resources to keep yourself and your loved ones safe in the next storm.
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- Ventura County: Ready Ventura County
- Orange County: AlertOC
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- San Bernardino County
Tips for driving in the rain
Advice on driving in the rain:
- Check weather and road conditions all along your planned route.
- Slow down.
- Keep a wider-than-usual distance between your vehicle and the one in front.
- Don't drive through standing water — as little as 12 inches of rushing water can carry away most cars, and 2 feet can carry away SUVs and trucks.
- Make sure tires are fully inflated.
- Check windshield wiper blades and replace if necessary.
Read more: What you should do if you end up driving in a flooded area
Downed tree, power line or flooded road?
Dial 911 if it's an emergency.
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However, if you need to report a flooded road or a downed tree, you can call the following non-emergency numbers:
- L.A. city: Dial 311 for a flooded road or downed tree. Call (800) DIAL-DWP if you see a downed power line.
- L.A. County: (800) 675-HELP
- Ventura County: (805) 384-1500
- Orange County: (714) 955-0200 or visit here.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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