LAFD issues evacuation warnings to residents

The Los Angeles Fire Department on Tuesday, issued evacuation warnings to residents.

The evacuation warning is for residents living in the areas of the city attacked by recent wildfires.

This comes ahead of heavy rain. and mudslides expected later this week.

The warnings were issued for areas affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires.

The fires collectively burned through roughly 40,000 acres of land.

It also scorched more than 15,000 buildings in January, according to an interactive map issued by the LAFD.

Officials said that two upcoming storms in Southern California make those areas “especially susceptible to heavy rain” and “high mudslide and debris flow risk.”

Some areas affected by the Palisades Fire are of particular concern for mudslides, according to LAFD’s map.

A spokesperson for the LAFD said in a statement,

“Those living near recent brush fires should be aware of the extreme danger possible from debris flows,

“When rainstorms impact the Los Angeles area, storm drains, canyons, arroyos and other sloped or low-lying areas can quickly fill with fast-moving water and debris, creating a life-threatening danger.”

Sierra Madre Fire Chief Brent Bartlett, whose department battled the Eaton Fire, told NBC Los Angeles that,

“if a mudflow occurs, public safety and public works personnel will not be able to enter an active debris flow zone.”

“This means that if you stay behind, you may be trapped for days before emergency crews can reach you,” Barlett added.

The LAFD urged residents in the affected areas to sign up for emergency alerts and urged them to listen to the local media.

He urged them to create an emergency household plan to designate “what each person will do in the event of a flood, mudslide or serious storm damage.”

LAFD encouraged residents to restock food, water, medication, flashlight, battery-powered radio, rain gear, first aid and sanitation supplies.

The warnings will remain in place until Thursday evening.

The city’s Palisades and Eaton fires, fed by the Santa Ana winds that had hurricane-force speeds, killed at least 29 people.

The fires were both declared fully contained on Jan. 31, more than three weeks after they began.

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