Oak Glen, California – Southern California was hit hard this week as heavy rain sent torrents of mud, rocks, and downed trees sweeping through communities in the San Bernardino Mountains, overwhelming roads, damaging homes, and trapping drivers. What started as a typical late-summer storm quickly became a reminder of how fragile life in these steep canyons can be when weather turns severe.
The mudslides struck Forest Falls, Oak Glen, and Potato Canyon on Thursday, according to the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District. In some spots, walls of mud and debris buried entire stretches of roadway. On state Route 38, near Jenks Lake in the San Bernardino National Forest, a group of about ten people in six vehicles found themselves stranded on both sides of the destruction. They were cut off in both directions, unable to move forward or turn back. Fire officials said the group was safe, and emergency crews were working to assess their needs.
By Friday morning, Route 38 remained closed, with the California Highway Patrol cautioning drivers to avoid the area entirely. Crews were still working to clear debris and assess just how much damage had been done. Despite the chaos, fire officials said there were no reports of injuries or missing people—a small measure of relief after such a harrowing day…