HILLSIDES PREPPED FOR RAINY SEASON.Byline: Jason Kandel Staff Writer BURBANK - Worried about the potential for winter mudslides coming out of the scorched scorch v. scorched, scorch·ing, scorch·es v.tr. 1. To burn superficially so as to discolor or damage the texture of. See Synonyms at burn1. 2. Verdugo Mountains The Verdugo Mountains are a small mountain range located just south of the western San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles County, Southern California, The United States of America (USA). The range is commonly known simply as the Verdugos. , Burbank officials are clearing out a dozen debris basins before the impending im·pend intr.v. im·pend·ed, im·pend·ing, im·pends 1. To be about to occur: Her retirement is impending. 2. rain season. Officials are also identifying homes and other structures that might be in the path of mudslides, mapping areas below the hillsides burned last week by an 1,100-acre wild fire. ``It completely denuded the hills of any growth,'' said Burbank Fire Department Battalion Chief Ray Krakowski. ``So that's pretty much the stuff that holds everything down. You have a convergence of canyons, and you have the potential for runoff.'' The assessment of danger areas isn't expected to be complete until the end of next week. Work on the debris basins, which are at the bottom of ravines coming out of the mountains, is expected to begin next week, and officials hope it is complete by Dec. 1. A city and Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County Public Works public works pl.n. Construction projects, such as highways or dams, financed by public funds and constructed by a government for the benefit or use of the general public. Noun 1. task force will hire contractors to remove up to a foot of debris from the cement and dirt basins. which lie at the bottom of ravines coming out of the mountains. ``We're hardening our infrastructure to get ready for winter,'' said Burbank interim public works director Bonnie bon·ny also bon·nie adj. bon·ni·er, bon·ni·est Scots 1. Physically attractive or appealing; pretty. 2. Excellent. Teaford. ``This is a top priority for us.'' Burbank has not suffered a major mudslide in at least two decades, Teaford said. The most damage has been occasional sloughing off hillsides, she said. ``I preferred that the hillsides had not burned,'' she said. ``But this is part of nature's cycle. In L.A., we have four seasons - spring, summer, fire and rain.'' A contractor was expected to begin clearing the debris basins next week after Burbank officials get environmental permits from state and federal agencies. The contractors use large excavators and dump trucks to cart away Verb 1. cart away - take away by means of a vehicle; "They carted off the old furniture" cart off, haul away, haul off take away, take out - take out or remove; "take out the chicken after adding the vegetables" the debris. The city reuses the dirt to cover over trash at the city's landfill, Teaford said. Cleanup on one medium-size basin costs between $50,000 and $100,000. Last week's fire was suspicious in origin, fire officials said. It started on a hillside above the DeBell Municipal Golf Course. Jason Kandel, (818) 546-3306 jason.kandel(at)dailynews.com |
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