California scorched region gets first significant rain

Areas of Los Angeles plagued by horrific fires earlier this month are now under flood watch after wet weather hit California.

Scorched areas affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires are now under a flood watch. The National Weather Service has warned that rain could prompt flooding and toxic ash run-off.

Intermittent rain showers, thunderstorms and even a small chance of hail are expected over the next few days.

Less than an inch of rain fell in most areas on the weekend.

Joe Sirard, a meteorologist for the National Weather Services office for Los Angeles said: “All these fresh burns are very suscepitible to rapid runoff.”

The largest of the blazes, The Palisades Fire, destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 11 people, reaching 90% containment on Sunday.

Liz Elkington, a producer, director and writer lives in LA. She recently was a producer on Channel 4’s new documentary ‘Inferno: LA on Fire,’ which followed a family that lost their home to the fire.

Liz said:  “The family I was filming with  lost everything, I felt privileged to be with them, but it was gutwrenching when they were learning in real time what had happened to their house in the Palisades.

“They were desperate to see the devastation that was left. The lady I was with, told me her mother only had 15 minutes to grab her  dog and leave as she could see the fire coming over the hill.

“The lady  also showed me a video of her father with a hose in his hand trying to fight the roaring fire. Only a sprinkle of water was coming out- it really shocked me.

“It was almost like a fight with Goliath and David.”

Liz spoke about how she looked through the smouldering rubble with the family as they tried to find anything that survived the blaze.

“It smelt like devastation”

“It smelt like devastation. The family was only able to recover two things, her grandmothers locket and a single page from a bible that said don’t be afraid.”

The documentary aired on Sunday the 12th of January, it was turned around in 72 hours.