Less than an inch of rain fell in most areas, but it was enough to loosen Los Angeles hillsides burned bare by the recent blaze near the Pacific Palisades.

Jan. 8, 1:25 p.m. PST The Palisades Fire in Los Angeles’ Pacific Palisades—an affluent coastal neighborhood—exploded to 15,832 acres, according to Cal Fire, making it the largest fire of the four burning in Los Angeles County as of Wednesday afternoon.

With parts of Los Angeles County still smoldering from wildfires, the expected rain this weekend would seem like a welcome relief. But how the rain falls could make the difference between a disaster respite or a disaster repeat.

Ohio firefighters are in California in response to the state’s request for additional help to fight ongoing wildfires. Ohio sent nine members of its fire management team from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to help California firefighters after fire managers in southern California requested additional resources late last week.

The National Weather Service said there is a 15-25% chance of thunderstorms across the region, which could bring periods of heavy rainfall that could overwhelm the burn-scar areas.

If the rain falls at a steady, lighter rate, Southern California could be in good shape. That could mean enough rain to help ease the firefighting strain, but not enough to trigger another potential disaster. Heavier rain could mean the chance for flash flooding or mudslides over fresh burn scars.

San Diego's dry conditions greatly increased the risk for wildfires. “We’ve been experiencing extreme fire behavior throughout Southern California as many have seen," said Rob Johnson, public information officer for CAL Fire.

A public insurance adjuster may help negotiate a better insurance payout for residents who lost their homes in the SoCal wildfires.

As of Jan 21, 2025, firefighters in southern California, USA, were still struggling to extinguish two of the largest wildfires the state has ever seen. The Palisades fire broke out in the western suburbs of Los Angeles,

Financial services providers in the region say they're ready to do their part rebuilding Southern California after a series of devastating fires. For many regional and community banks, initial fire-damage surveys identified limited impact.