With Rain Expected, Road Closures and Possible Evacuations [Updated]

Rain, and thus the threat of mudslides, has been an almost weekly event for Southern California this winter. And that has meant lots of evacuations, or at least the looming possibility, for foothill residents in or near burn areas of last year's Station Fire.

By 10 p.m. tonight, before chances of rain are scheduled to begin, the County of Los Angeles intends to close public access to all County roads within the fire's burn area. Roads will then reopen after the threat of rain has passed and safety inspections of the roadways are completed. This means the Angeles Forest Highway, Big Tujunga Canyon Road, and Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road, will be closed.

‘No Parking During Rain Event’ restrictions will also be enforced on posted streets in La Canada Flintridge and La Crescenta. Parking will not be allowed on those streets during the entire rain event.

43 homes were damaged in a mudslide in early February.

UPDATE, 10:21 a.m.: The L.A. County debris and mudflow potential forecasts predicts "small isolated debris and mudflows possible at specific locations" within La Canada Flintridge's Paradise Valley area. "Streets may be flooded or blocked by debris. Reports of debris on private property may be received. Few, if any, structures may be endangered." No evacuation has been formally called yet.

UPDATE, 5:11 p.m.: The County specifically states that there will be "possible minor to moderate mudflow deposition on the following streets below the burned hillsides in the
Paradise Valley area: Manistee Dr, Derwood Dr, Bristow Dr, Earnslow Dr."

Additionally, "the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works has announced that based on the current forecasted storms, it will close public access to all County roads within the Station Fire burn area at 2 a.m. on Saturday, March 6, instead of 10 p.m. today, Friday, March 5, as previously advised. As a result, the Angeles Forest Highway, Big Tujunga Canyon Road, and Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road, will be closed to all traffic except emergency vehicles including Public Works personnel. Residents living in the burn areas will not be permitted to use the roads until the closures are lifted."