INSIDE SMPD Targets Adults Supplying Alcohol to Minors in Undercover Operation smmirror.com
March 21 - March 27, 2025 Volume CXXIII Issue 214
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Mudslide Destroys Homes in Pacific Palisades, Roads Blocked Some residents have been unable to leave their homes due to the debris blocking roadways
A landslide in Pacific Palisades sent two hillside homes crashing down near Pacific Coast Highway and Sunset Boulevard, blocking roads and leaving some residents stranded, according to an Instagram post by @Citizen. The post reported that the collapse occurred on the 17400 block of Castellammare Drive, where land weakened by the Palisades Fire gave way, splitting one home in half. Another home on Positano Road, which had previously burned, slid an estimated 50 to 60 feet down the slope. The landslide also caused sections of the road to collapse, making access impossible for some neighbors. NBC4 reported that Los Angeles’ Bureau
of Engineering has not yet determined the cause of the landslide. However, Nate Onderdonk, a professor of Earth Sciences at California State University Long Beach, told NBC4 that excess water—potentially from recent storms or a water main break linked to firefighting efforts—may have played a role in the collapse. “The hillside didn’t get steeper magically,” Onderdonk told NBC4. “The rock type didn’t change, but if you add a whole lot of extra water, what you do is you destabilize that hillside.” The Instagram post by @Citizen stated that some residents have been unable to leave their homes due to the debris blocking roadways. One neighbor reportedly contacted the city for information on clearing the area but was told officials are uncertain how to proceed due to the risk of further collapses. NBC4 reported that the owner of the destroyed Castellammare Drive home was not injured, as he was living at another Pacific Palisades property. He initially felt relief that the house had survived the fire, only for it to later collapse due to shifting ground.
County to Conduct After-Action Review of January Wildfires The review will examine interagency cooperation, emergency notifications, evacuation procedures, and post-fire recovery efforts
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved a motion to commission an independent after-action report on the response and recovery efforts following the January 2025 wildfires, officials said Tuesday. Supervisors Lindsey P. Horvath and Kathryn Barger introduced the measure, which directs the county to contract with an external expert to assess emergency management practices, multi-agency
coordination, and public communication during and after the fires. The review will focus on the Eaton and Palisades Fires, which caused widespread destruction. “All communities impacted by this year’s wildfires have important questions that deserve to be answered,” Horvath said in a statement. “We must understand all that occurred and refine our emergency management practices to keep one another safe.” Barger emphasized the importance of learning from past disasters to improve future responses. “Disaster readiness is rooted in learning from past emergencies and acting on those lessons,” she said. “By evaluating our past actions and strengthening coordination, we can ensure a more effective response when disasters strike.” The review will examine interagency cooperation, emergency notifications, evacuation procedures, and post-fire recovery efforts, including disaster recovery centers, debris removal, and assistance for displaced individuals. It will also assess communication strategies between first responders, law enforcement, and municipal agencies.
Additionally, the report will evaluate the role of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health in wildfire response and the coordination of personal protective equipment distribution. Recommendations for improvements to evacuation shelters and donation management systems will also be included. The county’s report will be conducted alongside two after-action reviews led by the state. Governor Gavin Newsom’s office is overseeing a review focused on preparedness and emergency response
efforts by state and local agencies in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Another broader assessment, led by the California Office of Emergency Services, will evaluate the long-term response and recovery process. The Board of Supervisors has also called for an evaluation of pre-deployment strategies during extreme weather events, the adequacy of firefighting resources, and the impact of brush clearance policies on wildfire prevention.