Acton residents evacuated as rain continues
Stormy weather keeps law enforcement officials busy

By Melissa Gasca
Signal Staff Writer
mgasca@the-signal.com
661-259-1234 x518
Posted: Feb. 6, 2010 10:28 p.m.
POSTED Feb. 7, 2010 4:55 a.m.

The county's Department of Public works issued a mandatory evacuation order for 39 Acton homes at about 1:30 p.m. Saturday, but the order was lifted no more than eight hours later.

Officials had expected afternoon and early evening showers to pose potentially dangerous conditions to recent burn areas of The Station Fire.

Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Frederic Stowers reported no mudslides in Acton. Evacuations were issued as a precautionary safety move to protect residents from potential debris flows and hazardous conditions, he said.

Evacuations affected specific residences on Bootlegger Canyon Road, Heffner Road, Maryhill Road and Soledad Canyon Road.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for recent burn areas of the Station Fire.

California Highway Patrol responded to cars over embankments, fender benders and several other vehicle problems throughout the day, said Sgt. Diana Johnson.

"There are people driving too fast in the rain (who) just refuse to slow down," she said. "There's been several people transported (to hospitals) for very minor injuries all day long."

Johnson reported no major injury collisions.

The Pacific storm that smothered the sky with dark clouds and fog Saturday dumped more than an inch of rain upon the Santa Clarita Valley.

"It was born and bred in the Gulf of Alaska a good solid week ago," said National Weather Service Spokesman Bill Hoffer.

"The more energetic ones love California so they come down and settle over the Pacific Ocean which is what this one did."

The flash flood warning was in effect through late Saturday afternoon, Hoffer said.

Showers and possible thunderstorms were expected to continue throughout the night.

National Weather Service forecast a 20-percent chance of showers with partly cloudy skies today. Winds could reach gusts of up to 40 miles per hour, Hoffer said.

Monday brings mostly sunny weather with highs around 60 degrees, Hoffer said.

There is a 30-percent chance showers can return Tuesday, he said.