Gushing rain from the strongest storm to hit Southern California this winter caused a handful of injuries and swept one firefighter off the road into ocean swells on Feb. 13.
Videos shared on social media show the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) fire inspector’s vehicle dragged into the ocean as debris and mud poured over the roadway along Big Rock Road near Malibu. The SUV tumbled onto the driver’s side before righting itself.
The firefighter can be seen opening his door and escaping into the surf, holding his shoes and carrying a pack.
He was taken to the hospital and treated for minor injuries after reaching the shore, according to the LAFD.
“We talked to him, and he’s OK,” LAFD spokeswoman Lyndsey Lantz told The Epoch Times.
The storm caused debris to flow onto roadways in the Los Angeles County areas recently affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires, causing the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to close the 8.5-mile leg of the Pacific Coast Highway section between Malibu and Santa Monica.
The stretch of highway remained closed on Feb. 14 to all motorists except emergency responders, according to Caltrans spokesman Nathan Bass.
The highway was closed from Carbon Beach Terrace to Chautauqua Boulevard, Bass said.
Pacific Palisades residents were allowed to enter their community via Chautauqua Boulevard, according to Caltrans.
Caltrans reported significant flooding and mudslides at multiple locations along Pacific Coast Highway during the Feb. 13 rainstorms, including at Big Rock Road, where the firefighter’s vehicle was swept into the ocean.
Other minor incidents of flooding and mudslides occurred throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties, according to Caltrans, causing the agency to close some minor roadways for maintenance.
“The rains have subsided, the waters have receded somewhat, but sticky mud remains on [Pacific Coast Highway],” Bass told The Epoch Times on Feb. 14.
He said Caltrans geotechnical experts were assessing the slopes for further movement and would make a better determination of when the state can reopen the highway.
According to National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Wofford, about one to three inches of rain fell in Los Angeles County on Feb. 13 in the most populated areas, while the mountains above Los Angeles received three to six inches.
Wofford said the mountains could see some light showers on the afternoon of Feb. 14, but the area was expected to dry out during the weekend and throughout next week.
“We’ve got a long dry spell coming,” he told The Epoch Times.
In January, the Palisades and Eaton fires decimated the communities of Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Altadena, and Pasadena, leaving behind large swaths of charred and unstable soils that can result in mudslides during rain events.
The state installed emergency protection materials on the burn scars to keep the debris from entering creeks, rivers, and other bodies of water, according to the governor’s office.
“California has been in a constant state of readiness preparing for extreme winter weather,” Newsom said in a statement. “Crews have been on the ground for weeks working to secure areas against possible mudslides and debris flows.”
Some reports of damage throughout the region emerged on Feb. 13. The roof of a Smart & Final store in Azusa collapsed during the storm. There were no reports of injuries.
Malibu’s famous Duke’s restaurant, which survived the Palisades Fire, was overwhelmed with floodwater on Feb. 13.
Mudslides buried much of Topanga Canyon Boulevard, which could take days or weeks to clear. Mud also covered parts of Malibu Canyon.
In the Hollywood Hills, the LAFD reported a mudslide on the afternoon of Feb. 13 that sent about eight inches of mud to Mulholland Drive. No injuries were reported during the incident.
The LAFD reported some storm-related injuries and no fatalities.
“We transported a few minor injuries [after] one flooded car rescue,” Lantz said on Feb. 14. “Everything was minor yesterday related to the storm.”
In Altadena, crews responded to mud and debris cascading down Canon Boulevard and significant flooding. Stretches of several streets remained closed on Feb. 14, including Altadena Drive, Braeburn Road, Mendocino Street, and Homewood Drive. Glendora Mountain Road was also closed in the adjacent Angeles National Forest.
