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Fire debris prompts LA County beach closures until further notice
A view of beachside homes destroyed in the Palisades Fire along Pacific Coast Highway on January 16, 2025 in Malibu, California.
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Mario Tama
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Getty Images
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Topline:
Health officials have shut down approximately 9 miles of Los Angeles County coastline this week because toxic chemicals from the Palisades Fire may be in the sand and water.
What the closure covers: The closure starts at Las Flores State Beach to Santa Monica State Beach and will stay in effect until further notice, according to the L.A. County Department of Public Health. Officials are cautioning beachgoers to avoid contact with water or sand around the areas, as well as any fire debris they may come across.
What could be in the water? The recent rains created wildfire runoff that may contain toxic ash and dangerous debris, including carcinogenic chemicals, according to the health department. After the 2018 Woolsey Fire, scientists found elevated levels of fecal bacteria on the Malibu coastline.
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Fire debris prompts LA County beach closures until further notice
What about other beaches? The department has an ocean water quality rain advisory in effect for all L.A. County beaches through Thursday. Once that lifts, another water quality advisory will start that centers on fire debris, covering Surfrider Beach to Las Flores State Beach, as well as Santa Monica State Beach to Dockweiler State Beach at World Way, according to the department.
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