In response to the environmental threats, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass signed an executive order to expedite cleanup efforts, while LA County supervisors approved measures for flood-control and sediment removal.

Fire crews are actively filling sandbags and clearing drainage systems to prepare for potential flooding, while residents are advised to wear protective gear due to toxic ash.

Concerns about post-fire debris flows have heightened since the devastating Montecito mudslides in 2018, which resulted in significant loss of life.

Less than an inch of rain fell in most areas, but it was enough to loosen hillsides burned in recent fires, particularly affecting the Pacific Palisades neighborhood.

While evacuations in some areas have been lifted, many parts of Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and Brentwood remain under evacuation orders, requiring residents to show valid ID for re-entry.

Southern California recently ended a near-record dry spell with rainfall that provided much-needed moisture to the region, which has been classified under extreme to severe drought.

However, the rain on January 27, 2025, followed mudflows over the weekend that increased the risk of toxic ash runoff from areas affected by recent wildfires.

The National Weather Service warned of potential localized cloudbursts and debris flows in burn areas, anticipating approximately one inch of precipitation over several days.

Flood watches were issued for the Palisades, Altadena, and Castaic Lake areas due to concerns about rapid runoff from burn scars.

Due to hazardous road conditions, Malibu schools were closed on January 27, with officials citing access challenges stemming from the rain.

The estimated economic loss from the wildfires has surged to over $250 billion, making it one of the most costly natural disasters in U.S. history.

In San Diego County, rainfall has aided firefighters in making progress against the smaller Border 2 Fire in the Otay Mountain Wilderness.