How California’s record wildfire season paved the way for catastrophic mudslides
Waist-high mud flowed through California’s Santa Barbara County early Tuesday morning, killing at least six people and tearing homes from their foundations. Firefighters report rescuing people buried in mud, while mud and flooding forced a 30-mile stretch of the 101 freeway to close. It’s a familiar one-two punch for Californians — the catastrophic mudslides surging after a devastating fire season.
Also called post-fire debris flows, these mudslides form when water rushing down slopes picks up dirt, burnt trees, rocks, and other debris (like cars), reaching speeds of more than 35 miles per hour. “When you mix a lot of mud, water, and boulders, it certainly can be quite catastrophic,” says Dennis Staley, a scientist with the US…
