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Beaches closed indefinitely from Malibu to Playa del Rey because of fire debris runoff

Burned-down homes along an oceanfront.
Homes lie in rubble along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

The recent rainfall and increased debris from fire zones have prompted Los Angeles County public health officials to issue an advisory and close several miles of coastline from Malibu to Playa del Rey.

“Fire debris runoff and pollutants in the water and on the sand may contain toxic or carcinogenic chemicals, which can be harmful to health,” public officials said in a statement. “This includes any runoff that may flow onto or pond on the beach sand.”

At the same time that the beaches are closed, the county has issued an ocean water quality rain advisory for all Los Angeles County beaches until Thursday morning. The advisory warns beach users to avoid water contact for at least 72 hours after significant rainfall.

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Once that advisory ends, the coastline stretching from Surfrider Beach to Las Flores State Beach and Santa Monica State Beach to Dockweiler State Beach at World Way will remain closed indefinitely because of fire debris and chemicals that flowed from nearby water channels to the beach sand.

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