Runoff prompts beach closures from Malibu to Santa Monica

Los Angeles County health officials have strongly urged or prohibited the public to avoid contact with ocean water at beaches from Malibu to Santa Monica because of the recent rains and fire debris carried to the coast.

A water quality advisory was in effect for all beaches in the county until Thursday morning.

The LA County Department of Public Health’s water closure order is for all beaches from Las Flores State Beach in Malibu to Santa Monica State Beach.

“Fire debris runoff and pollutants in the water and on the sand may contain toxic or carcinogenic chemicals,” according to health officials.

The closure will be in effect until further notice.

An ocean water quality rain advisory will be in effect for all Los Angeles County beaches until 8 a.m. Thursday. Rainfall such as from the storm earlier this week usually carries possibly harmful bacteria into coastal waters.

A separate water quality advisory will remain in effect indefinitely past Thursday because of the potential for runoff to carry fire debris into the ocean. That advisory affects all beaches from Surfrider Beach to Las Flores State Beach in Malibu and from Santa Monica State Beach to Dockweiler State Beach at World Way in Playa del Rey.