Rain heads to Ventura County as Woolsey Fire nears full containment

Authorities braced for expected rain on recent burn areas in Southern California as fire crews continued progress toward full containment of the Woolsey Fire.

"That is our next concern going forward," said Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. AJ Lester, a spokesman for the Woolsey incident.

Though full containment was projected for Thursday, a small storm, forecast to arrive in the region on Wednesday is putting fire personnel on alert.

Estimate of structures destroyed increased to 1,500

By Monday morning, the Woolsey Fire was 94 percent contained, an increase of 2 percent from the previous night.

Officials also raised their estimates of structures destroyed in the incident to 1,500 with another 341 damaged. Over 150 of the structures lost and nearly 100 of the structures damaged were located within Ventura County, officials said.

Damage assessment of the Woolsey burn area was 95 percent complete as of Monday.

Dozens of Southern California Edison crews were working to repair damaged lines while additional evacuees were allowed to return home, Cal Fire officials said.

At 9 a.m. Monday, the Broad Beach area of Malibu was opened for residents to return.

More:Woolsey Fire's destructive toll surpasses Thomas Fire

Officials also announced Monday that a local assistance center located at the Thousand Oaks Grant R. Brimhall Library, 1401 E. Janss Road, would remain open through Sunday. The center, which provides recovery assistance, was originally scheduled to close Monday.

The center is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The center will be closed Thanksgiving Day.

The National Weather Service reported that a storm could arrive Wednesday afternoon or evening and provide one-quarter to three-quarter of an inch of rain.

"The threat of significant mud and debris flow is quite minimal (for burn areas)," said David Sweet, a weather service meteorologist.

However, Sweet added that people should be vigilant and observant of flowing water. Lester urged residents of the region to obtain sandbags, which are available for free from all Ventura County Fire Department stations.

According to Lester, teams of fire crews were assessing the burn area, looking for regions susceptible to mud and debris flows. Crews were taking measures to ensure that moisture would be absorbed by the soil, not slide off it.

"Any burn area with a slope is at risk," he said.

Lester said the rain has delayed the release of fire personnel still assigned to the incident.

At this point, with the containment level so high, fire officials would have de-mobilized or released a lot of fire units and allowed them to return home, Lester said.

As of Monday morning, more than 1,000 fire personnel remained assigned to the Woolsey Fire along with 70 engines and six helicopters.

Lester said he was confident that fire resources would be able to cope with the rain event.

"It won't be something we can't handle," he said.