Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart Commends Collaboration on New Wildfire Clean Up Site at Will Rogers State Beach Parking Lot

Statement from Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart on the addition of a second EPA processing site at Will Rogers State Beach Parking Lot:

“The City of Malibu is grateful to California State Parks and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for working together to accelerate wildfire recovery efforts. The addition of a second temporary EPA processing site at Will Rogers State Beach Parking Lot is an important step in ensuring hazardous materials are removed safely and efficiently, helping impacted residents move forward in rebuilding their homes.

As recovery efforts progress, we remain committed to advocating for safeguards that protect our coastal environment and the health of our residents. We will continue working with our federal, state, and local partners to ensure this process is carried out with transparency, safety, and care for our community.

We appreciate our residents’ patience and engagement and will keep you informed as recovery efforts move forward.”

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

Avoid Water Contact from Surfrider Beach to Dockweiler Beach at World Way

February 05, 2025

Due to current rainfall, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health advises beach users to avoid all water contact, especially near discharging storm drains, creeks, and rivers due to potentially higher bacteria levels in these areas. This includes any runoff that may flow onto or pond on the beach sand.

Ocean and bay recreational waters, especially near discharging storm drains, creeks and rivers can be contaminated with bacteria, chemicals, debris, trash, and other public health hazards from city streets and mountain areas after a rainfall. Individuals who enter the water in these areas could become ill. Rain advisories remain in effect for 72 hours after the rainfall ends.

The ocean water quality rain advisory will be in effect until 10:00 am, Saturday, February 8, 2025.

This advisory may be extended depending on further rainfall.

OCEAN WATER CLOSURE AND ADVISORY DUE TO FIRE IMPACTS REMAIN:

The ocean water closure from Las Flores State Beach to Santa Monica State Beach remains in effect until further notice.

Once the rain advisory is lifted, the ocean water advisory from Surfrider Beach to Las Flores State Beach and from Santa Monica State Beach to Dockweiler State Beach at World Way will remain until further notice.

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

On 01/27/25, SMPD Detectives received a report of a suspected inappropriate relationship between a 16-year-old female Santa Monica High School student and a male teacher.

An immediate and thorough investigation of the allegations ensued. Detectives learned the science teacher and student were engaged in inappropriate activities since the end of 2024. The incidents took place in multiple locations throughout Los Angeles County.

On 02/05/25, SMPD Detectives with assistance of uniformed and undercover officers, served arrest and search warrants and took the teacher into custody. The teacher has been identified as Ingo Horst Gaida (58), of Los Angeles.

Gaida was booked for 647.6(a)(1) PC – annoying or molesting a child under 18 and 272(a)(1) PC – contributing to the delinquency of minor, both are misdemeanors. The case will be filed with the Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office. Gaida was released from SMPD custody with a citation and promise to appear in court. Gaida has no prior criminal history.

If anyone has any additional information or has also been the victim of abuse by this teacher, please contact Officer Destinee King at (310) 458-6679, Sgt. David Haro at (310) 458-8952, or the Watch Commander desk 24 hours a day at (310) 458-8427.

The environmentally sensitive Topanga Beach area is now a toxic waste processing site. The EPA has made it a sorting, repacking, and staging area for hazardous waste and debris from the Palisades Fire clean up. This is scheduled to go on for 3 months. Hazardous materials collected and packaged from properties will be brought into the staging area daily. Once there, materials will be:
• separated into waste streams,
• packaged for safe shipment and
• transported from the property for safe disposal.

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

The Eviromental Protection Agency is now going to turn Will Rogers Beach into a Toxic Waste Site.

Here is the EPA's staement:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, California State Parks, and the city and county of Los Angeles to assist in the safe removal of household hazardous materials from properties damaged by the Palisades Fire. This necessary action helps speed up debris removal on properties destroyed by the wildfire and will enable residents to rebuild their homes faster.

The parking lot at Will Rogers State Beach will serve as a temporary site for household hazardous materials collected and transported from nearby properties to be consolidated, securely packaged, and safely loaded for transportation to a permanent disposal or recycling facility outside of the area. This location is suitable because it is flat, open land close to damaged properties that require debris removal.

The Will Rogers State Beach parking lot is a California State Parks property that has been operated by Los Angeles County for more than 50 years through an agreement with State Parks. Los Angeles County has a separate agreement with the City of Los Angeles for the maintenance of the parking lot. All agencies are working closely to complete this critical recovery work safely and efficiently.

The temporary processing site is closed to the public, and EPA is using best management practices to process any hazardous household material and keep it contained within the facility. Throughout this process, EPA will conduct air monitoring to ensure that operations in and around the site are health protective.

This site is an important part of Los Angeles’ ongoing efforts to safely remove fire debris so that the recovery and rebuilding process can move forward as quickly and safely as possible. We ask for your patience and understanding as state and federal partners work towards recovery for our community.

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

Touring the fire destruction along the coast and current condition of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. This is going from the northern end of the burn area to Topanga Beach, viewing the coast side of PCH.

Upcoming videos will focus on the east side of PCH and then Topanga Beach and further south.

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

Pacific Coast Highway will be closed between Chautauqua Blvd in Los Angeles and Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu, tomorrow Feb. 4 at 3 p.m. due to risk of mud & debris flows from upcoming storms.



For more news, updates and traffic conditions on PCH and other local beachside roads, Click Here.

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

February 02, 2025

Ocean water quality results from January 31, 2025, and February 1, 2025, indicated that bacterial levels met health standards. Therefore, the ocean water closure for the following area has been lifted:

· From Encinal Canyon to 31250 Broad Beach Rd., in Malibu.

OCEAN WATER CLOSURE AND ADVISORY DUE TO FIRE IMPACTS REMAIN

· An ocean water closure and advisory due to fire related impacts have been issued for the following ocean and bay areas:

o An ocean water closure from Las Flores State Beach to Santa Monica State Beach.

o An ocean water advisory from Surfrider Beach to Las Flores State Beach and from Santa Monica State Beach to Dockweiler State Beach at World Way.

· These remain in effect until further notice.

Use the map below to obtain the current water quality status of your favorite beach location. Use your mouse wheel to zoom into a particular location. Click on the marker to identify the sampling location. This map is updated as conditions change.


For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

It was announce late Saturday night that Pacific Coast Highway reopening will be postponed for 1 day, now reopening on Monday.



Starting Monday, LAPD will transfer responsibility for Palisades access to CHP and the National Guard, allowing LAPD to increase its service citywide while also keeping the Palisades secure.

“The Los Angeles Police Department remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure the burn area remains safe,” said LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell. “We appreciate their support as we continue to service the needs of all Angelenos.”

One lane will be closed in each direction between Temescal Canyon Rd in LA & Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu. Speed limit will be reduced to 25 MPH & all signals will be on flashing red.

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.