CRASH MARS RAIN-SLICK HIGHWAY FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR REGION'S FIRE-DAMAGED AREAS.

Byline: Amy Raisin Darvish Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - As much-needed rain doused the area Wednesday, traffic collisions were up and county officials on alert for flooding in the hillsides burned in last fall's brush fire, authorities said.

Rescue crews had to free at least three people trapped in an overturned vehicle after a head-on crash before 2 p.m. on state Route 126 in Valencia. Their injuries were listed from minor to critical, authorities said.

``There is always a significant increase (in crashes) when it rains, mostly because people don't adjust their speeds and slow down,'' said Officer Wendy Moore of the California Highway Patrol's Newhall station.

Moore said an investigation into the crash that left a Chevrolet Tahoe in three pieces will help determine whether rain was a factor. The responding officer said it was raining when he arrived at the scene, west of Wolcott Way, she said.

With flash flood warnings issued for mountainous regions burned during the wildfires last fall, crews are keeping an eye on the Stevenson Ranch area, specifically behind homes toward the south and west.

``We're on heightened alert; we've got inspectors out there looking for breaks,'' said Richard Bagby of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works and Building Safety. ``Our major job when it comes to rain like this is (monitoring) burn areas and construction areas.''

The rain is not as much of a threat to local fire-damaged areas - where a brush fire last October started in Val Verde and spread to Ventura County before returning to threaten Stevenson Ranch - as in other Southland regions ravaged by wildfires last year, according to fire officials.

``There was some damage from the Simi Fire (near Stevenson Ranch) that we're keeping an eye on, but nothing like the Claremont fire,'' said Inspector Edward Osorio of the county Fire Department.

Today's forecast calls for some sun in the morning followed by partly cloudy skies, according to the National Weather Service. Cloudiness will continue Friday, with a 20 percent chance of rain in the afternoon and evening.

The weekend forecast calls for temperatures in the 50s. Rain is likely Saturday, according to the Weather Service.

Amy Raisin Darvish, [phone]

amy.raisin(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Firefighters work Wednesday to free a victim trapped in the cab of a Chevy Tahoe that collided head-on with a Toyota 4Runner, foreground, on Route 126.

(2 -- color) An outdoor ad showing an oversize tomato gets rained on Wednesday along with the passing pedestrians at Valencia Town Center.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer