Authorities in Orange County have closed 9th Street Beach, commonly known as Thousand Steps Beach, following a landslide in the bluff area on Friday morning.
The landslide was reported at 7:15 a.m. and city officials confirmed there was no immediate threat to other properties.
Aerial images from SkyFOX captured the extent of the landslide, showing debris in the affected area. Local authorities continue to monitor the situation and will determine when the beach can safely reopen.
Residents and visitors are advised to avoid the area until further notice.
In nearby Los Angeles County, crews have spent the past week working to mitigate potential hazards. Efforts include clearing vegetation, stabilizing slopes, and reinforcing roads in neighborhoods devastated by the Palisades and Eaton fires. These fires, fueled by powerful winds on January 7, destroyed entire communities, leaving behind rubble and ash.
Heavy downpours on hillsides scorched by fires could result in toxic ash runoff, according to a report from the Associated Press (AP). Some of the affected areas are still battling active blazes.
According to the New York Times, airborne lead levels reached 100 times the average, even miles from the fire sites, while chlorine levels spiked to 40 times their usual concentration. These chemicals are byproducts of melted plastics, burned paint, and other urban materials, underscoring the unique hazards of urban wildfires.
“These fires are no longer just about burning trees and grass,” said Haroula Baliaka, a Ph.D. candidate in atmospheric chemistry at the California Institute of Technology. “They are urban wildfires, fueled by the very materials that make up our homes and cities.”
