With rains beginning to subside Monday morning, most flash flood and debris flow warnings were expiring across Southern California’s burn areas, but forecasters said a chance of thunderstorms and showers would remain through the day.

The Hughes burn scar, which includes Santa Clarita, Acton and Lake Castaic, remained under a flood watch until 10 a.m., as the cold, wet system slowly moved over the region. The possibility for isolated showers will remain across the Los Angeles Basin into Tuesday.

High-intensity rain — more than half an inch per hour — can wreak havoc on burned areas, increasing the likelihood of flooding and landslides on soil made water-repellent by fire.

Ahead of the storm, the National Weather Service issued flood watches for the Palisades, Eaton, Hughes, Franklin and Bridge fire burn scars.

At a town hall Sunday, officials told those affected by the Palisades fire that the L.A. County Department of Public Works had installed 15,000 K-rail barriers and 50,000 sandbags in the burn area to protect properties and the environment.

As of Monday morning, reports of only minor issues related to the storm were trickling in.

Rainfall rates of 0.39 inches per hour were reported near Pepperdine University on Sunday night, with higher rates likely occurring elsewhere.

Flooding briefly shut down the 101 Freeway in downtown early Monday, while KABC-TV News captured residents working to free vehicles trapped in thick mud in Woodland Hills.

Most of the region received some measurable amount of rainfall from the storm — the first decent precipitation the region has seen in months. Parts of Los Angeles received more than an inch and a half as of 4 a.m. Monday, while other areas, like Castaic, saw less than half an inch.

Porter Ranch had the highest confirmed two-day rain total in L.A. County, with 1.62 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

A weather service station at Eaton Dam, near the Eaton fire burn scar, recorded two-tenths of an inch of rain by early Monday. A Monte Nido station — in the Santa Monica Mountains near the Palisades fire burn scar — recorded 1.55 inches.

At the same time, the mountains across the region received around a foot of snow. Interstate 5 through the Grapevine was closed Monday morning as a result.

Here are other rain totals for the region for the last 48 hours, as of 4 a.m. Monday.

Coast-Metropolitan

Valleys

Coming out of Pennsylvania, Robert Morris pass catcher Carl Smith may become the NFL's next gem. If the Rams want a developing pass catching threat, Smith is the man their looking for.

In this story:

Since taking over the Rams, Sean McVay seems to find some unknown player, some overlooked pass catcher every summer that somehow lights it up during preseason. Whether they work out or not is neither here nor there but the team likes to bring in talented individuals, allowing them to showcase their skills.

The best pass catchers are those who are students of the game, expressive with their knowledge as they forge it with their skills. One Robert Morris playmaker may have the brains and the tools to become the next rookie sensation in Los Angeles.

Robert Morris wide receiver Carl Smith is a name that is gaining some traction within the draft community. Speaking to several scouts and analysts, they're impressed with his play and approach to the game and while his name won't appear on many mock drafts, Smith is a player several scouts have found to be draftable. Where he goes will be determined by his pre-draft workouts.

Finding gems is never really about finding players who are good or at least perceived as good. The top players are considered good and that's why they get drafted where they do. Finding gems is about discovering a player who may excel in a better situation, who has not just potential but the mindset and the attitude to achieve it despite the obstacles attempting to prevent such an action.

I spoke to Smith recently to talk shop with him and he gave some insight on his views regarding the game of football. I asked him to describe the Robert Morris offense and Smith was more than happy to go into detail explaining...

"At RMU [Robert Morris University], we ran a West Coast Offense. It consisted of a lot of run schemes to set up play action passes and deep ball opportunities. What I liked about RMU’s offense was that I could showcase my willingness to block, and then be rewarded in the pass game when defenders began to stack the box. At RMU, we huddled every play and had some very very long play calls.Being apart of this offense really helped me prepare for NFL play calling as I learned the playbook like the back of my hand. Although I’m gifted athletically, I think my biggest strength in regard to football is my understanding of the X’s and O’s. I love taking notes and soaking in as much football knowledge as possible. When it was time to speed up the game at RMU, we did no huddle signals from the sidelines. This is something I was also very good at dealing with. Having to remember both long play calls and signals from the sidelines made me more of a complete football mind than most other prospects."

The thing that struck me was not his clearly evident knowledge of the game, it was how he articulated it. His language, his tone and verbiage screams coach speak and those who speak like Smith are coachable, reasonable, possess respected leadership abilities and are easy to mold into the player a team may need them to be. So I asked Smith to break down Sean McVay's offense and how he sees himself fitting into it. Smith said...

"Sean McVay’s scheme is perfect for a wide receiver like myself as he runs a lot of motions to diagnose coverages. For a smart receiver like myself, this is very helpful for me to read coverages and find holes in defensive schemes. Not only does his offense consist of a lot of motions but it is also a scheme similar to RMU where he uses the run to set up the pass game. The Rams have a lot of condensed split formations where receivers are required to get the box and block. From my tape, you can see that I don’t mind getting my hands dirty and helping open up running lanes for the backs. These condensed splits also cause defenders to play more off coverage and I feel like route running is a lot easier when you have space to release freely. If a defender does not get their hands on me, it is almost impossible to guard me. McVay’s scheme has helped the Rams offense be one of the most effective in the entire league. A gadget receiver like myself would thrive in his offense as I trust that he will put me in situations to dominate my one-on-one match ups, pick apart zone coverages, and help the run game. "

After he told me this, it resonated with me as if felt like Cooper Kupp or Puka Nacua were commenting through Smith's voice. His words echoed his sincerity when it comes to the game and towards an offense he may be playing in soon.

Smith is a high character player who shares the Rams wide receiver room's attitude when it comes to the game of football. When the game is on the line, I want to rely on guys like Smith to come through and the Rams should feel the same way too.

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Published 6 Hours Ago

BROCK VIERRA

Brock Vierra, a UNLV graduate, is the Los Angeles Rams Beat Writer On Sports Illustrated. He also works as a college football reporter for our On Sports Illustrated team.

A flood watch will go into effect Sunday in recent Los Angeles County wildfire areas.

City News Service, News Partner

LOS ANGELES, CA — A flood watch will go into effect Sunday in recent Los Angeles County wildfire areas, as the first of what's expected to be three days of rain arrives and authorities switch gears from worrying about fires to possible landslides.

The National Weather Service issued a flood watch from 4 p.m. Sunday to 4 p.m. Monday for the Eaton, Palisades, Franklin, Bridge and Hughes burn scars.

"Flash flooding and debris flows caused by excessive rainfall are possible in and near the burn scars," according to the NWS. "Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop."

Although the rainfall totals aren't expected to be that large, the terrain in the fire areas is especially vulnerable to movement after the devastating blazes.

The NWS also issued a winter storm warning that will be in place from 4 p.m. Saturday to 4 p.m. Monday for the eastern San Gabriel Mountains, and a winter weather advisory during the same hours in the Golden State (5) Freeway corridor in the northern reaches of the county.

Find out what's happening in Los Angelesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Forecasters warned that "heavy snow" is expected in the eastern San Gabriels, possibly accumulating up to 14 inches in some areas, although only an inch or less is anticipated along the Grapevine stretch of the 5 Freeway.

For the rest of the area, rain is expected to arrive early Sunday, with only light showers anticipated through Sunday morning. But "chances for higher rain rates will be increasing Sunday afternoon into Monday," according to the NWS.

The exact amount of rain expected has been in flux, with some forecasts initially indicating between a quarter- and half-inch, but others calling for slightly more. Thunderstorms are also possible with the system.

Local authorities aren't taking any chances.

Mark Pestrella, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, said crews were preparing for the potential rain, deploying K- rails, sandbags and other devices "to manage sediment and debris." In the Eaton Fire area, crews were using Santa Anita racetrack as a staging area for supplies, and on the west side near the Palisades Fire, Santa Monica Airport was being used as a base of operations.

"Currently, our crews are clearing debris from streets, cleaning and preparing debris basins, deploying sandbags and other systems to keep runoff with ash and other burn debris from entering the storm drain system," he said. "Public Works is also working with the state to coordinate the deployment of K- rail in burn areas."

Pestrella urged burn-area residents who have returned to their homes to plan to stay indoors during the storm event, saying that while officials do not expect the rain to cause damaging flows that would mandate evacuations, sediment and debris will still likely flow into streets.

"This is not expected to be a tremendous amount of debris, but enough to actually cause transportation problems for our first responders that may be trying to travel," he said. "I'd like to reserve those streets for our first responders."

He said people who live in homes that back up to recently burned hillside areas can have county crews come to their homes and inspect their properties to see if any mitigation efforts are needed to protect against possible landslides. But he warned: "If ... there is a slope behind your home that is burned and it's maybe 20 feet or more in height, and it is adjacent to the property in any direction, your best bet is not to be in that home when it rains."

The county Department of Public Works is the lead agency coordinating fire-debris-removal efforts following the Palisades and Eaton blazes, in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency -- which is handling the first-phase removal of hazardous wastes -- and the Army Corps of Engineers, which will oversee physical debris removal. Officials with those agencies noted that preliminary work on removal has begun, but mainly with assessments and establishing temporary storage areas for debris being removed.

Residents seeking sandbags for protection against possible debris flow were asked to visit the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works website at dpw.lacounty.gov/dsg/sandbags/.The rain will arrive as firefighters continue to make progress encircling major wildfires that have struck the region in recent weeks.

The Eaton Fire in the Altadena and Pasadena areas was 95% contained after burning 14,021 acres, and authorities said Saturday that repopulation efforts were completed.

The Palisades Fire was 87% contained after burning 23,448 acres. Many residents are returning home under escort by sheriff's deputies, but some areas remain under an evacuation order.

The Hughes Fire near Castaic Lake has burned 10,425 acres since breaking out Wednesday, and was 90% contained Saturday, according to Cal Fire.

The fires have thus far claimed 28 lives -- 11 in the Palisades Fire area and 17 in the Eaton Fire.The Los Angeles County Office of Medical Examiner has positively identified 18 of the 28 people confirmed dead in the two wildfires. The list can be found at me.lacounty.gov/2025/press-releases/wildfire-update-18-victims- identified-by-medical- examiner/?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_te rm=.

Evacuation orders have been lifted for dozens of areas in both the Palisades and Eaton fire areas, though some homes were still without electricity and/or gas service due to safety shutoffs. A curfew remains in effect nightly from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the mandatory evacuation areas, with only firefighters, law enforcement and utility workers allowed in those zones.

The sheriff's department and other law enforcement agencies have reported dozens of arrests for alleged looting, burglaries and curfew violations since the fires in ignited in Altadena and the Palisades.

Topanga Canyon Boulevard between Grand View Drive and Pacific Coast Highway remains closed until further notice. PCH is also closed between Coastline and Entrada drives.

FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are open at UCLA Research Park West, 10850 W. Pico Blvd., and Pasadena City College Community Education Center, 3035 E. Foothill Blvd., to assist homeowners with applying for aid.

A new Disaster Recovery Center will open in Altadena Monday, with daily hours from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and will be available to residents seven days a week. The new center will be located at 540 W. Woodbury Road. Both the Pasadena and Altadena locations will be open through the end of January, but beginning Feb. 1, the Pasadena location will close and all services will shift to Altadena.

The causes of the Eaton and Palisades fires remain under investigation. Both erupted on Jan. 7 as the area was under a red flag warning for critical fire danger due to a historic wind event that saw gusts of 80 to 100 mph.

More than 16,000 structures were destroyed in the two fires, according to Cal Fire.

By the time all the damage is assessed, the fires are expected to constitute the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history.

Los Angeles, CA (January 26, 2025) – A vehicle collision resulting in injuries was reported at 3410 Glendale Blvd in Los Angeles on Sunday. Emergency responders quickly arrived on the scene to provide care to those affected by the incident.

The crash occurred in the afternoon hours and involved multiple vehicles. Specific details regarding the number of cars or the sequence of events leading up to the collision remain under investigation by local authorities. The Los Angeles Fire and Rescue team worked diligently to secure the area and assist those injured.

First responders, including paramedics and fire crews, treated individuals who suffered a variety of injuries. At least one person was transported to a nearby hospital for further medical evaluation and care. Authorities have not disclosed the identities of those involved or the severity of their injuries.

The cause of the accident is currently under investigation, and officials are collecting evidence from the scene. They have also asked any witnesses to come forward with information to help determine what led to the crash.

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this incident, and we wish the injured a speedy recovery.

Vehicle Accidents in California

California’s roads and highways are among the busiest in the nation, and as such, vehicle accidents are a common occurrence. Glendale Blvd, a major thoroughfare in Los Angeles, is known for its heavy traffic and can become a hotspot for collisions, particularly during peak travel times. Factors such as distracted driving, speeding, and failure to yield at intersections often contribute to accidents in urban areas.

According to the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), the state experiences tens of thousands of vehicle crashes annually, many of which result in injuries. Urban areas like Los Angeles see a disproportionate number of these accidents due to the dense population and high traffic volumes. Drivers are urged to stay vigilant, adhere to traffic laws, and practice defensive driving to help reduce the risk of collisions.

Victims of vehicle accidents in California may face significant challenges, including medical expenses, lost income, and emotional trauma. Those affected are encouraged to explore their legal options, which may include filing claims for compensation against negligent drivers or insurance providers. Legal representation can help ensure that victims receive the support and justice they deserve during the recovery process.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a vehicle collision, reach out to Local Accident Reports for guidance. We provide resources and connections to professionals who can help you through this difficult time.

A law firm suing Southern California Edison said new video appears show electrical arcs and sparking on the night of Jan. 7 at the origin of the deadly Eaton Fire in Altadena.

The security camera video from a Pasadena gas station was obtained by Edelson PC over the weekend. In an edited version of the video, the law firm claims it shows arcing in the canyon where the fire started in a Santa Ana windstorm before flames destroyed homes and businesses in the community northeast of Los Angeles.

The Arco gas station video also shows tree branches and traffic light signs blowing in the powerful wind gusts that fanned the Eaton Fire. In the upper right corner of the video, a light can be seen flashing in the darkness.

A few minutes later, the orange glow of flames appears in the distance.

The manager and general manager of the gas station in Pasadena told NBCLA they released the video in a effort to answer lingering questions about the start of one of the most destructive and deadliest fires on record in California.

The Eaton Fire started at about 6:18 p.m. near Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive, according to Cal Fire. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Cal Fire said.

NBCLA reached out to SoCal Edison for comment on the latest video, one of several released in the days and weeks after the fire that appeared to show the first flames in Eaton Canyon near utility infrastructure.

A spokesperson for SoCal Edison told the Los Angeles Times that the company received the video Saturday.

"It's premature to comment or for anyone to draw conclusions until experts can fully review the video," Kathleen Dunleavy, a spokesperson for Edison, told the Times, adding that company officials reached out to investigators to make sure they had the video.

Edison officials have said they do not believe their equipment started the fire.

At a court hearing Monday, Edelson PC asked a judge to preserve physical evidence in the investigation into the fire's origins.

SoCal Edison insisted in court that Pasadena Water and Power also owns high-voltage lines in the area.

"SCE’s distribution lines immediately to the west of Eaton Canyon were de-energized well before the reported start time of the fire, as part of SCE’s Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program," the company said in an earlier statement. "SCE is currently conducting a review of the event."