People in the Altadena evacuation zones are on high alert in a year where fires took almost everything.
As heavy rain pushes through Southern California, there are individual homes under mandatory evacuation orders in some areas, while many more people in burn scars, like the Eaton Fire, are under evacuation warnings.
That means people need to be prepared to leave.
People in the Altadena evacuation zones are on high alert in a year where fires took almost everything in the area. Many residents are hoping things don't get even worse with damaging debris flows.
Crews from the public works department set up K-rails along some of the steepest declines in the Altadena area, trying to prevent debris from washing over the roads.
The general Altadena area is under an evacuation warning, but residents in about 20 specific homes are being asked to leave now.
Eyewitness News was there as sheriff's deputies went door-to-door, asking residents to leave.
In total, 126 specific residences -- mainly near the Palisades Fire burn scar -- are under evacuation orders.
Traipsing through a pitch black, soaking rain, deputies in Altadena made the rounds to the most vulnerable homes.
At homes where no one answered, the team taped notices to the doors.
At least one of the Altadena homes under mandatory evacuation, an X painted on the sidewalk indicates it's already been damaged in the Eaton Fire.
"At the top of these hills, it doesn't seem that bad, but it's only going to get worse, so we're trying to get everyone out as soon as we can," said Deputy David Amic.
With little margin for error for homes bordering the Eaton Fire burn scar, deputies made three trips, trying to make contact with every homeowner.
"We were here twice, actually, around noon, 5 p.m. and now... because it's important for the residents to know that 'Hey, the mudflow is going to get heavy. It's expected.' And it's going to be hard for them to exit the residence because of the debris," Deputy Rolando Iglesias said.
Just next door, the neighbors are in slightly safer territory. But only slightly.
"I saw the evacuation order, but I think we're OK," said Arsen Andreasyan. "We worked on the mountain a lot to redirect the water, so I feel like we're OK."
As the rain picks up and soaks deeper into the burnt soil, homeowners and deputies are preparing for the possibility of the ground shifting under homes and over roads.