Quick Read
- Wrightwood, CA was hit by heavy rain and mudflows during the 2025 Christmas storm.
- Evacuation and shelter-in-place orders were issued due to flooding and debris flows.
- Fire crews worked overnight to assist residents and protect property.
As holiday lights flickered in Wrightwood, California, the mood was anything but festive. The mountain community, nestled on the edge of San Bernardino County, found itself at the epicenter of one of the region’s most dangerous Christmas storms in years. By dawn on December 24, 2025, relentless rains from a powerful atmospheric river had transformed Wrightwood’s fire-scarred hills into channels of mud and debris, threatening homes and lives.
Residents awoke to the sound of rushing water and emergency alerts. The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department issued evacuation warnings stretching from Pine Street to the Los Angeles County line, citing the risk of sudden mud and debris flows. At 7:30 a.m., flooding was already reported across Highway 2 near Wrightwood, and by mid-morning, fire crews were going door to door, urging families to leave. Christopher Prater, a spokesperson for the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, summed up the situation bluntly: “Right now, our primary concern is life safety.”
Conditions escalated rapidly. Floodwaters spilled into streets, trapping vehicles and stranding residents. Some were advised to shelter in place as fast-moving muddy water surged past windows and front doors. Video footage captured the chaos: cabins half-submerged, roaring runoff carving new paths through yards and driveways. NBCLA and CBS Los Angeles reported on the widespread flooding, while fire officials coordinated rescue efforts for those stuck in their cars.
Emergency services mobilized in force. Late Wednesday, more than 120 firefighters and emergency personnel remained on duty in Wrightwood, working overnight to shore up property and assist with evacuations. Their efforts included damming, diverting water, and salvaging belongings from threatened structures. The intensity of the storm left little room for error; even a minor delay could spell disaster for those in the path of debris flows.
Evacuees were initially directed to Silverado High School, but as conditions worsened, a larger center was established at the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds in Victorville. Officials made clear that both people and animals of all sizes would be welcome—a critical detail for a community where horses and pets are part of daily life.
The storm’s impact was felt far beyond Wrightwood. Across Southern California, major highways were shut down due to flooding and mudslides. Interstate 5 was closed in Sun Valley; State Route 18 at Sheep Creek Road in Phelan was entirely impassable. Road closures rippled outward, affecting travel from Malibu to the San Gabriel Valley. The National Weather Service recorded more than 11 inches of rain in some mountain areas—an amount that, in just 24 hours, overwhelmed infrastructure and threatened communities built along steep slopes.
Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Los Angeles and other counties. Mayor Karen Bass issued a local emergency order in Los Angeles, ensuring that firefighters, police, and public works crews had the resources needed to respond. “We are making every resource and tool available to help facilitate this continued response effort,” Bass said, emphasizing the need for swift action and coordination.
Wrightwood’s ordeal was mirrored in nearby mountain towns. In Lytle Creek, evacuation orders stranded some residents after a bridge connecting parts of the community was washed away. “We’re trapped,” one resident told LA Times. In Altadena, homeowners returned to rain-soaked lots where houses once stood, reflecting on the toll of both fire and flood.
Despite the destruction, the community showed resilience. Fire crews reported only one minor injury—a child transported to a local hospital as a precaution. But the threat was far from over. Forecasters warned that the storm’s cumulative effects could worsen over the coming days, with rain lingering into the weekend. Ariel Cohen of the National Weather Service cautioned, “It’s going to take less and less rain for there to be more and more impacts as the week progresses.”
For Wrightwood’s residents, the holidays became a test of endurance and solidarity. While some found refuge in evacuation centers, others stayed behind, hoping that sandbags and quick thinking would keep the worst at bay. Outside, emergency vehicles patrolled the battered roads, their lights reflected in the floodwaters that had turned familiar streets into hazardous rivers.
Throughout Southern California, stories of rescue and adaptation emerged: firefighters plucking stranded motorists from submerged vehicles, families huddled in Red Cross shelters, volunteers distributing food and blankets to those displaced. Even as the Pineapple Express storm battered the region, people found moments of connection—in the sharing of coffee, the comfort of donated gifts, and the hope that the worst would soon pass.
Wrightwood’s experience during the 2025 Christmas storm is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of mountain communities to extreme weather events. The combination of fire-scarred landscapes and torrential rain created a perfect storm for mudflows and flooding, but rapid emergency response and community cooperation helped avert a greater tragedy. With climate unpredictability on the rise, Wrightwood’s ordeal underscores the need for resilient infrastructure, comprehensive evacuation planning, and continued investment in disaster preparedness across California.
Citations: LA Times, NBCLA, CBS Los Angeles, The Canadian Press