Recent wildfires have left Southern California with “burn scars,” making the area prone to mudslides.

A considerable amount of vegetation in Los Angeles that once anchored the topsoil has been devastated by wildfires, resulting in “burn scars” or charred patches of land commonly found in hilly regions.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has alerted residents that mudslides can occur unexpectedly and may lead to severe destruction, sweeping away individuals, vehicles, and buildings.

Areas affected by fire are now at risk for mudslides

Over the weekend, the National Weather Service in California issued a warning for regions facing a heightened chance of rain, which could trigger hazardous mudslide conditions.

Understanding mudslides

In the aftermath of the wildfires, parts of Southern California are at risk for mudslides, mudflows, and landslides. The combustion of trees and other materials during wildfires creates ash and debris that can render the ground slippery.

Mudslides are a specific type of landslide characterized by a rush of mud descending slopes, typically after heavy rain. The key difference is in the materials involved: mudslides comprise fine silt and saturated soil, while landslides can include a mix of earth and larger debris, per the California Department of Education.

Various types of landslides

Landslides can be classified based on their movement patterns—such as slides, flows, spreads, topples, or falls—and the types of materials that constitute them—rock, rubble, or earth. A single landslide may exhibit several types of movement.

CONTRIBUTING Christopher Cann and John Bacon and Michael Loria, YSL News and Reuters

SOURCE NOAA, National Weather Service, California Geological Survey, California Geological Survey, and Britannica.com