Incoming rain could be a double-edged sword for fire-ravaged parts of California. While it might aid recovery in some areas, the rain could pose new risks. The Associated Press reveals heavy rain on fire-scarred landscapes could lead to toxic ash runoff, especially since some fires are still active.

Los Angeles County crews spent much of the past week removing vegetation, shoring up slopes and reinforcing roads in devastated areas of the Palisades and Eaton fires, which reduced entire neighborhoods to rubble and ash after breaking out during powerful winds Jan. 7.

Most of the region was forecast to get around an inch (about 2.5 centimeters) of precipitation over several days, but “the threat is high enough to prepare for the worst-case scenario” of localized cloudbursts causing mud and debris to flow down hills, the National Weather Service said on social media.

Meanwhile, The New York Times reported last week that the Los Angeles fires have caused the city’s air quality to drop to toxic levels. The smoke from the fires, The Times says, expelled harmful ash into the atmosphere, containing dangerous substances like lead, asbestos, and numerous other chemicals.

The consequences of this contamination might include severe impacts on brain and nervous system health due to airborne lead, particularly affecting children. Additionally, exposure to chemicals such as chlorine could harm the respiratory system.

Following President Trump’s Friday visit, the AP says Golden State health officials issued warnings to Pacific Palisades residents who returned to their homes the next day.

Officials cautioned that ash in recent burn zones was a toxic mix of incinerated cars, electronics, batteries, building materials, paints, furniture and other household items. It contains pesticides, asbestos, plastics and lead. Residents were urged to wear protective gear while cleaning up.

Thankfully, the President is planning on lifting federal regulations to make rebuilding easier for Angelinos adversely affected by the wildfires.

All of this could have been avoided had Los Angeles and California officials done their due diligence to prevent wildfires with proper preventive measures such as forest thinning and controlled burns. Then again, environmentalists sued to stop these efforts so the blame for all of this (including the deadly pollution, contamination and death) is all on them.