Evacuation warnings for Wrightwood, California, were lifted on Friday following damage from a Christmas Eve storm. Cleanup operations are now in progress as the community assesses the impact.
Wrightwood Damage Assessment
Heavy rainfall resulted in mudslides within Wrightwood. Oriole Road was covered by mud, debris, and charred wood that moved down the mountain into residential areas. This accumulation led to vehicles being buried under several feet of mud and streets becoming coated.
The area had been previously affected by the Bridge Fire in the fall of 2024. San Bernardino County Fire stated that burn scars from this fire reduced the ground's water retention, contributing to natural channels being overwhelmed during the storm.
Approximately 3,000 Southern California Edison customers initially experienced power outages. As of the report, nearly 3,000 customers remained without power, with service restoration timelines extended due to inaccessible areas. The Village Grind coffee shop operated on a generator during the outages.
Highway 2 and the 138 Freeway are open, though specific sections require reinforcement. Power lines in several areas are supported by line trucks as repairs commence. Local authorities are maintaining a watch mode, deploying additional crews to Wrightwood and Lytle Creek in anticipation of further rainfall.
Officials initially estimated that approximately 50 homes in Wrightwood sustained damage from the mudslides; this figure is subject to change as assessments continue. Access to Wrightwood is currently restricted to residents only.
Lytle Creek Impact
In Lytle Creek, residents are also addressing storm-related damage. Over 100 residents in the Happy Jack neighborhood are isolated due to their sole access road being washed away by the rainfall, rocks, and debris.