Landslide Threatens California Homes, Strands 90 Vehicles
Fox News, December 12, 2009 [here]
LOS ANGELES — Another in a series of winter storms moved into California Saturday, bringing rain and snow while sending mud and debris on to highways.
As many as 90 vehicles were stranded after rocks and mud flowed down the hillside amid heavy rains along a 12-mile stretch of Angeles Crest Highway north of Los Angeles in an area where a massive wildfire burned earlier this year, said county fire Capt. Frank Reynoso. No injuries were reported.
Reynoso said about half of the vehicles had been freed Saturday afternoon but dozens remained stuck, and some would have to be retrieved after Saturday.
Several small slides have been reported on the highway between La Canada Flintridge and Mount Wilson, and the road was to remain closed indefinitely, the California Highway Patrol said.
The National Weather Service posted a flash flood warning for the area, and a less-urgent flash flood watch was in effect for many other parts of the region.
Foothill communities near slopes scorched by the fire were urged to be on guard, and major canyon roads through the burn areas remained closed. … [more]