Evacuation Order Lifted for 180 Homes in Duarte

DUARTE - Evacuation order has been lifted Monday for about 180 homes in the Duarte area, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department announced.

Starting at 10 a.m. residents can return but they will have to show valid IDs in order to be allowed back into the evacuated area, the department said.

Officials urge residents to use extreme caution when driving through re-opened areas and not to attempt to drive through moving water.

Returning residents should be cautious of boulders or other debris in the roadway, and report downed power poles and odors of natural gas immediately, according to the LASD.

The Duarte evacuations affected homes near the site of last June's 4,000-acre Fish Fire.

The evacuation notices had been issued in advance of the intense rainstorm that began before dawn Sunday.

Duarte ordered some 180 homes in the Fish Fire impact area evacuated by Sunday morning. An evacuation center was set up at the Duarte Community Center at 1600 Huntington Drive. Residents were urged to make arrangements for their animals since the pets are not allowed at the evacuation center.

Those who refused to evacuate -- as they are entitled to do under California law -- were required to sign a refusal to evacuate form acknowledging they are aware of the risks and assuming all liability for their decision, the city said.

Cleanup operations continued on Mel Canyon Road from Brookridge Road to Royal Oaks Drive but the city said mud and debris flows were less than those from Friday's storm.

The National Weather Service has the Los Angeles area under a Flash Flood Watch through 6 p.m. indicating flooding was possible but not imminent.

-- City News Service contributed to this report, photo courtesy of the Los Angeles County Public Works Department