A single-family home in Pacific Palisades, located on the 17000 block of Castellammare Drive, was split in half by a landslide on Thursday, January 16. The incident occurred after the house narrowly escaped destruction during the recent Palisades Fire, according to local reports.
The 1,000-square-foot home was heavily impacted by water runoff from ongoing firefighting efforts and a mudslide triggered by the collapse of a neighboring home that had burned down. The Palisades and Eaton Fires have together destroyed over 12,300 structures.
Bryan Kirkwood, a security officer hired to protect surviving properties, described the scene as “devastating.” He admitted the severity of the damage only became apparent when he arrived at the site. “I didn’t realize it was this bad… Wow. This is a big deal,” Kirkwood told KTLA.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) inspected the area days before the landslide and isolated a damaged water main. By January 16, they found the split home and redirected water flow to prevent further damage.
Mark Pestrella, Los Angeles County Public Works Director, said his department is coordinating with the California Department of Transportation to stabilize the fragile soil in fire-affected areas. “Mud and debris flow hazards exist even when it’s not raining, so we want people to be very careful,” he cautioned.
Meanwhile, LAFD Captain Erik Scott confirmed that thousands of homes in steep hillside areas face compromised infrastructure due to the fires. Efforts are ongoing to monitor and address potential landslide risks in Pacific Palisades and Malibu.
The Palisades Fire, which began on January 7, has burned over 23,700 acres with 39% containment. The Eaton Fire, also ignited on the same day, has scorched more than 14,000 acres and is 65% contained, according to fire officials.
