Home that survived Palisades fire 'split in half' by landslide

The threat of mudslides is expected to continue into the winter, experts say.

A hillside home that survived last week's devastating Pacific Palisades fire was "split in half" by a landslide, KTLA reports.

The Pacific Ocean-facing home, located on Castellammare Drive, was inundated by a mud and debris slide resulting from water runoff from firefighting efforts.

Threat of mudslides, floods likely to continue after fires extinguished

Experts say the threat of mudslides won't end when the fires are extinguished.

Earlier this month, with wildfires still blazing, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order allocating resources toward mudslide and flood prevention.

A statement issued by the Government of California says officials are working to mitigate the risks post-fire burn scars and winter weather could bring.

"With much of the winter still ahead, the risk of rainstorms creating new catastrophes in [fire zones] areas remains high," reads an excerpt from the statement.

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"At the direction of the Governor, the work to prepare for potential mudslides and flooding begins immediately."

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The Pacific Palisades fire destroyed several homes in the community when it erupted last week. Taken in Pacific Palisades on January 8, 2025.(CAL Fire/Flickr/Public Domain).

The executive data points toward past weather records, which suggest winter could pose challenges for the LA area as it rebuilds.

"Historical data indicate that significant winter rainstorms are likely to impact the Greater Los Angeles Area in the next few months, compounding the peril posed to communities impacted by these devastating fires, as well as neighboring communities downhill and downstream," reads the order.

"It is critical that the state remain vigilant and prepare now for the potential threat to lives and property that flash flooding, mudslides, and debris flows would pose, even while the firefights remain active."

How do wildfires elevate the risk of mudslides and floods?

Wildfires alter the environment in several ways. Fires incinerate the trees and other vegetation that help anchor the soil. When plants, and their roots, are removed en masse, it can loosen the soil and make it more susceptible to being washed away by heavy rain.

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Aftermath of the Palisades fire. Taken January 8, 2025. (CAL Fire/Flickr/Public Domain).

Intense fires, like the ones happening in LA, are known to change the composition of soil), causing it to develop a wax-like layer that repels water.

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This reduced absorbency makes rainwater more likely to pool on the ground and elevates the risk of floods.

Header image: Firefighters battle the Palisades fire on January 8, 2025. (CAL Fire/Flickr/Public Domain.)