Over the weekend, rain brought relief to fire-weary Southern California, helping to bring several fires near Los Angeles closer to complete containment. The Eaton, Palisades, Hughes, and Laguna fires are all over 85% contained as of Sunday morning, with only the Border 2 Fire near San Diego currently less than 50% contained. The Hughes Fire near Santa Clarita has burned nearly 10,500 acres, but no structures have been reported damaged. However, the rain has raised concerns about potential mudslides in the burn areas, leading the National Weather Service to issue a flood watch through Monday.
The Eaton and Palisades fires started nearly four weeks ago during a historic wind event that has resulted in multiple fatalities, destroyed thousands of homes and businesses, and burnt nearly 37,500 acres. The Laguna Fire, which started on the same day as the Hughes Fire, is 98% contained. The Border 2 Fire, which began in the Otay Mountain Wilderness Area near the U.S.-Mexico border, is expected to see rain throughout the afternoon.
Overall, while the rain has provided much-needed relief to firefighters battling the blazes, there are concerns about potential dangers posed by mudslides in the affected areas. The containment percentages for each fire indicate significant progress in bringing the fires under control.
