Major mudslide prompts road closures, downed power lines
By Leticia Juarez and Michelle Fisher
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OAK GLEN, California (KABC) — A major mudslide in Oak Glen prompted several road closures, trapped cars and downed power lines Thursday afternoon.
Video shared with ABC7 shows the massive mudslide come rushing down a hillside, sweeping up anything in its path.
Oak Glen resident Denise Romo, who captured the video, said her husband had gone to pick up their daughter from school when the storm hit. Fifteen minutes later she heard a loud rumble.
“It kind of sounded like an earthquake was coming,” she said. “When I opened my kitchen window I just see the first wave of mud, and it already had trees, mailboxes, a bunch of debris.”
The incident happened on Potato Canyon Road where emergency efforts were underway as homes became surrounded by mud.
A tidal wave of mud and debris swept through the communities of Forest Falls and Oak Glen after a heavy downpour. The National Weather Service had issued flash flood warnings due to the likelihood of mudslides in the San Bernardino Mountains.
Cal Fire urged people in both communities to stay out of the area or shelter in place after the surge of mud and debris covered roadways and compromised power lines.
Several vehicles were also caught up in the flood waters with people having to shelter along the roadside as they waited for help to arrive.
The San Bernardino County Fire Department said several roads were blocked and multiple homes were impacted.
About 10 people in six or seven vehicles were stranded on Highway 38 in the area of Jenks Lake, near Angelus Oaks, but the group is “safe and their needs are being evaluated by emergency crews,” the fire department said.
A damage assessment team will survey the extent of property loss Friday. There have been no reports of missing people.
“San Bernardino County Fire is planning for a full operational period tomorrow, with priorities focused on completing damage assessments, supporting affected residents, and addressing critical infrastructure needs in partnership with CAL FIRE, Caltrans, and other allied agencies,” the fire department said.
Cal Fire has not said when roadways will reopen. Crews were making their way to Oak Glen and Forest Falls as they attempt rescues. The agency said they rescued a dirt biker who broke a leg while exploring the debris flow.
AIR7 captured several aerials of the mudslide at an Oak Glen restaurant and a nearby home inundated with mud.
Oak Glen Road from Fawn Way to Potato Canyon was closed. In Forest Halls, Highway 38 was also closed to traffic.
This is not the first time Oak Glen and Forest Falls has experienced this type of flooding.
Three years ago, heavy storms also caused mudslides that impacted homes and roads. According to Cal Fire, that incident and Thursday’s mudslide are linked to debris runoff from the 2020 El Dorado burn scar.
The National Weather Service issued flash flood warning for parts of San Bernardino County amid the thunderstorms and heavy rain in the area, including in Oak Glen.
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