The Threat of Flooding Hangs Over the Eaton Fire Area

Forecasters have issued a flood watch Sunday for the devastated Eaton Fire area in Altadena as firefighters got the massive burn area 95% contained by fire lines and continued to root out hot spots.

With rain expected through Monday, the National Weather Service issued a flood watch from Sunday afternoon to Monday afternoon for the Eaton burn scar.

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

Pasadena Water and Power lifted the do-not-drink water notice for the remaining areas in its service territory Friday, while the Foothill Municipal Water District said it will be able to fully pressurize the water system this weekend. Testing will then take up to two weeks before that do-not-drink order can be lifted.

The fire has burned 14,021 acres in Altadena and Pasadena since Jan. 7, leaving at least at least 17 people dead, according to Cal Fire. Nine firefighters have been injured battling the blaze. It has destroyed 9,418 structures and damaged another 1,073.

There were 1,837 personnel assigned to the firefighting effort as of Friday morning, Cal Fire reported.

An evacuation center remained open at the Pasadena Convention Center at 300 E. Green St. Cal Fire officials said “repopulation efforts have been completed,” though the agency said there were 571 evacuees in six shelters as of Saturday.

Southern California Edison reported that service has been restored to 12,422 structures, with 6,961 remaining without power.

SoCalGas officials temporarily shut off natural gas service to thousands of customers in the Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre communities as a safety measure. As of Saturday, the utility had restored service to 6,466 of them. The Gas Co. has established an information booth for residents at the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center at Pasadena City College’s Community Education Center, 3035 E. Foothill Blvd.

A new Disaster Recovery Center will open in Altadena on Monday, 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 entire Angeles National Forest will be closed for public safety and the protection of natural resources through at least Friday.

On Monday, the Pasadena Unified School District, which includes schools in Altadena, will reopen Field Elementary School, Washington Elementary STEM Magnet, Madison Elementary, Norma Coombs Elementary and the Children’s Center on the Jefferson campus. Some schools reopened earlier this week, and the district is setting a goal of returning all students to in-person learning by Jan. 30.

The Eaton Fire was reported about 6:20 p.m. Jan. 7 in the area of Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive in the hills above Altadena amid hurricane force Santa Ana winds, according to Cal Fire. The cause of the fire has not been determined.