A home worth about $2 million in California, which happened to be unscathed by the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, has been destroyed by a landslide.
A one-story oceanfront property in the Pacific Palisades was split in half by a landslide and collapsed. Fox 11 LA reported. The surrounding area remains buried in mud, and running water has also been observed nearby.
The one-bedroom, one-bathroom home was sold several years ago for nearly $2 million and rented for $14,000 a month, Fox 11 LA reported, citing online data. . It is located on Via Castellammare.
Landslides are the latest concern for homeowners and officials in Los Angeles. This is because the water used to extinguish the fire could weaken the ground and make the foundation unstable. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) also warns of the risk of mudslides and landslides after wildfires, as wildfires destroy vegetation that would otherwise protect the soil.
A $2 million home in California that had survived a devastating fire has been destroyed by a landslide. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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Aerial footage shows a house directly on top of one that was split in half by the fire that may have caused the landslide.
The Pacific Palisades was the hardest hit by the devastating wildfires in terms of fire damage. More than 23,700 acres have been burned, according to the Los Angeles Times. At least 10 people are confirmed dead in the Eaton Fire, and 17 more people have died, Fox 11 reported.
The Palisades Fire was 27% contained as of around 8 p.m. Thursday, up from 22% in the early morning.
Brian Kirkwood, a security guard hired to protect the house from looters, was shocked to see it torn apart.
“This is devastating. I never expected it to be this bad,” Kirkwood told KTLA. “I wasn't watching the news, so I came out here and looked, and I never thought of this before. Wow, this is a big deal.”
A one-story oceanfront property in the Pacific Palisades was split in half by a landslide and collapsed. Landslides are the latest concern for homeowners and officials in Los Angeles. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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Mark Pestrella, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, said the enormous amount of water sprayed to fight the fire is having unintended consequences.
“What we call dry gravel is a slope that's so steep that it's completely dry. And then this slope collapses and you see what looks like a landslide, but it's a landslide. “Pestrella told FOX 11.
“Debris has entered the streets and property. Some of this material is supporting some of the structures that remain. There is some water ingress into the system.”
He added that gas and water mains were also destroyed during firefighting efforts, and water was cut off in some areas of the Palisades fire zone.
“We did this for two reasons. One was because we wanted to maintain the water pressure in the system and not lose it to the property, which could increase the momentum of the landslide. ,” he said.
He said there is also a significant amount of dry gravel in the Lower Topanga River area.
“We are in discussions with Caltrans to maintain these slopes to ensure continued access to this area.”
Apple Valley Fire District engineer James Lyons sprays hot spots on a house destroyed by the Palisades Fire on January 13, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, California. (AP Photo/John Locher)
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He said runoff hazards remain a problem despite the lack of rain, and Los Angeles County has been dry for several months.
“So, [as] We want to warn all residents, no matter where you live in Los Angeles County, if you have a slope behind your home or live on a slope, these slopes are now vulnerable.'' he said.
“The soil that supports your homes has been made fragile and damaged by the events and winds we have experienced. [is] mud and rubble. ”
