Mud and water flows cause massive damage to homes in the foothills as residents wait to see what else may be coming.

By Mary O’KEEFE

A press conference concerning the mudflow and flooding in Crescenta Valley and other areas affected by the Station Fire is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

Officials are expected to report on the number of rescues throughout the county and what is being done to help residents who have been evacuated.

“We have mandatory evacuations in Acton, La Crescenta and La Cañada, “ said Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Frederic Stowers.

The evacuation orders cover the same neighborhoods that were ordered to leave during January’s storm. Although last month’s rainstorm did little more than send a few pieces of debris down local streets and fill the debris basins this storm’s damage has been much more severe.

Several homes in La Cañada have been heavily damaged. Homes in La Crescenta have also seen mud enter driveways, garages and in some cases homes.

Deputies closed the top of Pine Cone Road due to the debris that was endangering a residence. The home in the 5600 block butts up against the mountain. The burnt vegetation is an indication just how close the Station Fire came to the home.  The entire hillside is barren and, with this rain, has flowed into the driveway and garage.

Deputies said they were concerned that with more rain predicted for this evening the mudflow would increase. The family complied with evacuation orders.

The city of Glendale closed access to Dunsmore Avenue at Henrietta Avenue to allow public works crews to clean the rocks and other debris that had spilled down from Deukemejian Wilderness Park.

Residents in the Montrose Villa complex in the 2800 block of Montrose Avenue heard a loud noise then the rush of water early today.

“It looks like the water came up against the wall with [enough force] to knock it down,” said resident Billy Soloman.

Pieces of the cement wall that had once surrounded the pool now littered around the patio area and in the pool.

“Then all this firewood must have been up against the wall on the other side,” he added.

Several large pieces of apparent firewood were everywhere including in the pool.  There was also debris similar to the mudflow throughout the area.

“When the wall fell and everything went into the pool it created a tidal wave and it went up the wall and down the walkway,” Soloman said.

Earlier on Saturday, mud and about four inches of water streamed down Ocean View Boulevard through Montrose, leaving debris of large trees and garbage in its wake.

At the top of Ocean View the water and debris forced cars down the street plowing at times into each other or landing in neighbor’s yards.

Los Angeles County Fire Department were called out for two rescues at homes and several needed to rescued from vehicles in both La Cañada and La Crescenta.

“We have emergency teams ready and called in others [from various stations] to help,” said Stowers.

L.A. County Fire has called in additional hand crews had also been called in to help with the debris and clearing. Stowers said the department is ready for the predicted additional rain this afternoon and tonight but also when it stops raining.

“After the rains stops there is a risk [of mudslides] anywhere from 72 to 96 hours,” Stowers said.