Flash flood warning issued in Malibu, multiple mudflows force road closures near Palisades Fire burn scar
The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for Malibu near the Franklin Fire and Palisades Fire burn scars through Sunday evening as heavy rain moves through the region.
Officials reported flooding along Pacific Coast Highway due to the rain at around 8:15 p.m., according to NWS officials.
"While not immediately likely, a life threatening debris flow will be possible," a release said.
As such, the warning remained in place through 10 p.m. on Sunday evening near both the burn scar from the Franklin Fire, which scored thousands of acres in December, and the western portion of the Palisades Fire burn scar west of Las Flores Canyon Road, NWS officials said.
"This is a life threatening situation," the release said. "Heavy rainfall will cause extensive and severe flash flooding of creeks...streams...and ditches in the Burn Scar. Severe debris flows are possible across roads."
Earlier in the day, a number of considerable mudflows forced the closure of multiple roads in the Palisades Fire burn scar.
The first closure, on Palisades Drive downhill from Avenida De Santa Ynez and Paseo Vista Hermosa, happened in the area decimated by the wildfire in early January, was reported at around 4 p.m.
SkyCal flew over the spot of the slide, where one tractor could be seen working to clear the debris from the two-lane road. Some trucks could be seen wading their way across the thick material at a slow pace.
About 30 minutes later, California Highway Patrol also closed the Pacific Coast Highway, just west of Topanga Canyon Boulevard for a separate mudflow, according to a post from the department on X.
There appeared to be some debris from the burn scar that included large branches, bushes and other charred objects with SkyCal over Topanga Canyon Boulevard.
Just north over the Santa Monica Mountains, a different mudflow trapped multiple cars in Woodland Hills.
At least four vehicles became trapped on Mulholland Drive near Alhama Drive, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
While nobody needed to be rescued, tow trucks and LA Department of Transportation officials were called to the location to remove the cars and handle traffic in the area.
While leaving the scene of a fire in Sun Valley, a Los Angeles Fire Department truck also got stuck in a debris flow. Firefighters could be seen working to free the vehicle by shoveling the muck from around the engine's tires.