As California Storm Brings Mudslides to LA, a Car Plunges Into the Pacific

The road conditions were indeed treacherous. However, it was still shocking when a Los Angeles Fire Department SUV careened down a hill and landed in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday.

TV news footage captured the vehicle after it plunged more than 20 feet with a fire inspector inside, swept away by a sudden mud flow down a fire-scarred mountain in Malibu, Calif. After his vehicle turned upright from being tossed by waves, the inspector managed to open his door, jump out, and make his way through muddy waters. He then climbed up the hill to safety, showing remarkable presence of mind by bringing a bag and pair of shoes with him.

Despite the harrowing experience, the inspector emerged with only minor injuries and was treated at a hospital. The fire officials did not disclose his name. This incident was one of the most dramatic scenes during a severe storm that caused flooding and mudslides in parts of Southern California before the skies cleared on Friday.

The storm transformed roads into rivers, sent muddy water cascading down hills, and even spawned a tornado further up the coast. Cleanup crews in Los Angeles County were busy clearing roads and removing over 4,000 fallen trees and branches. Fortunately, the overall damage in the area was not as extensive as initially feared.

The areas that had been ravaged by wildfires last month were of particular concern to officials. The fires had destroyed 12,000 structures, but they also compromised the soil, making it less able to absorb water. This led to mudflows carrying debris downhill.

In Sierra Madre, Calif., mud inundated some neighborhoods in the foothills of the fire-damaged San Gabriel Mountains, leaving roads and vehicles covered in mud.

The storm prompted numerous evacuation orders across Southern California and resulted in road closures. However, as of Friday, there were no reports of serious injuries or fatalities, according to the Fire Department.

A section of Pacific Coast Highway spanning about 10 miles remained shut on Friday due to severe flooding and mudslides, making parts of the scenic route impassable, as reported by the California Department of Transportation.

In Oxnard, Calif., a mobile home park located approximately 60 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, a weak tornado spawned by the storm damaged roughly a dozen structures, including awnings, carports, and mobile home roofs, according to the National Weather Service.

Ariel Cohen, the meteorologist overseeing the Weather Service office in Oxnard, noted that tornadoes are uncommon in Southern California, with the region typically experiencing one tornado per year or every other year.

The storm also brought strong wind gusts exceeding 70 miles per hour across the region, according to the Weather Service.

Although Duke’s Malibu, an iconic oceanfront restaurant, had survived recent fires that destroyed nearby structures and homes, it was not spared during this week’s storm. Despite being closed since the Palisades fire started on Jan. 7, TV reports showed its parking lot flooded during the peak of the storm.

Fortunately, there were no individuals inside the restaurant at the time of the mudslides. However, the establishment acknowledged in a social media post on Friday that the cleanup process would be extensive.