Mayor Karen Bass issued an emergency executive order Tuesday morning in Los Angeles to raise firefighting areas and protect waterways ahead of possible rain this weekend.
The forecast calls for some rain on Saturday as it continues over the Los Angeles area A disastrous firestorm battle It destroyed a large area of coastal LA and Altadena in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains.
While the rain may seem welcome as the fire continues to burn, landslides and debris flows in burned areas can be very destructive. The toxic residue of these urban fires only magnifies the threat. Meanwhile, the region still faces severe fire danger, which could last until Thursday or Friday.
Ahead of the coming rains, Bass' executive order instructs city crews to clear vegetation, reinforce hillsides, reinforce roads, and remove debris from neighborhoods and burning areas. According to the mayor's office, the city will install reinforced concrete barriers and sandbags to flood affected areas and prevent the flow of toxins. The city will also work to divert stormwater into the sewer system to prevent fire-contaminated waste from flowing directly into the ocean.
“This is to prevent additional damage to areas already ravaged by fires, and to protect our waterways, beaches and oceans from toxic runoff,” Bass said Tuesday.
Southern California has a 60% to 80% chance of rain this weekend, according to Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Oxnard.
Rain could arrive Saturday evening and continue into Monday, Kittel said, with rainfall totals in the region of about half an inch.
“It's not going to rain all that time, but there's a chance of a window or two,” Kittel said.