DUARTE >> Officials have issued mandatory evacuation orders to take effect Friday morning for residents of 180 homes and an elementary school near the Fish fire burn area in Duarte as anticipated heavy rain prompted worries of flooding, debris flows and mudslides.
Residents of Fish fire burn area surrounding Valley View Elementary School, are urged to evacuate by 7 a.m., city officials announced Thursday afternoon in a written statement. The school will also be closed on Sunday.
•Map: Fish fire burn area
The area saw mud flowing into the streets, particularly Melcanyon Road, during heavy rains in January and December. But no significant damage has been reported in the area this season as a result of mudslides, debris flows or flooding.
But with a massive storm expected to drop as much as an inch per hour of rain on Southland and wind gusts of up to 70 mph on Friday and into Saturday, officials took no chances with the fire-denuded and already-soaked hillsides
“L.A. County Public Works has also been cleaning local debris basins since February 15 in advance of this event to accommodate anticipated mudflow,” according to the city statement.
“Los Angeles County Public Works has issued a Phase 2 Flow Forecast for this storm anticipating that heavy downpours and wind could cause mud and debris flows even more extensive than January’s flows on Melcanyon Road and adjacent streets which resulted in over 2,800 cubic yards of mud,” the statement said.
Officials went door-to-door notifying affected residents of the evacuation order on Thursday afternoon.
“Please note, residents under mandatory evacuation orders will not be allowed back into their homes until the orders are officially lifted by Duarte Public Safety officials,” according to the statement. “Residents that refuse to evacuate must be prepared to shelter in place until evacuation orders are lifted. There will be no re-entry into evacuation area.”
The National Weather Service in Oxnard issued a county-wide Flash Flood Watch, which is to remain in effect through Saturday morning.
“Projected rainfall totals through Saturday morning are expected to range between 3 and 6 inches across coast and valleys with 5 to 10 inches possible in favored foothill and mountain locations,” according to the Flash Flood Watch/ “Heaviest rainfall amounts (are) expected along south facing slopes from the Santa Ynez Range east through the San Gabriels.
The heaviest rain is expected to fall between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Friday, officials added.
City phones, as well as the city’s Emergency Operations Center, will remain staffed 24-hours between Friday and Saturday mornings.
“City staff will continuously be deployed within the Fish fire impact area to address situations as they arise,” the city statement said.
The city is teaming with the Red Cross to open an evacuation center starting at 7 a.m. Friday at the Duarte Community Center, 1600 Huntington Drive. It will remain open until the evacuations are lifted.
“Evacuated residents are encouraged to bring medicines and any other items they may need for a minimum 48-hour period,” the city statement said. “Meals will be provided, and county animal control officials will be on-hand to help with displaced pets.
Trash pickup in the affected area, which normally occurs on Fridays, will be postponed until Monday. Residents are asked not to move their trash cans out to the street until Monday morning.
Staffed street closured will be set up throughout the evacuation area.
Filled sandbags are available at the corner of Mountaincrest and Brookridge roads, officials said. Unfilled sandbags are being distributed behind at Los Angeles County Fire Station 44, 1105 Highland Ave.
PHOTO: Mud and debris stacked up against the K-rails along Melcanyon Road below the recent Fish fire burn area in Duarte on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017. Authorities issued mandatory evacuation orders for homes surround Valley View Park and Valley View Elementary School. (Watchara Phomicinda/Staff Photographer)
