As a lifelong Californian native, I’ve always noticed that this state is renowned for its diverse landscapes and vibrant ecosystems, but devastating wildfires have increasingly plagued it. These infernals leave behind a trail of destruction, transforming lush forests and vibrant grasslands into charred wastelands.
The aftermath of these fires is a complex and delicate situation. Where the beautiful land loses its landowner, homeowners, or otherwise. People lose not only the place they live, but possibly their passion. Begin the long journey towards recovery.
How Rain Helps Heal the Land After Wildfires
One of the critical factors influencing this process is the arrival of rain. The rain that follows the wildfires plays a dual role in the burnt areas of California. On one hand, they’re essential for the revitalization of the scorched landscape, providing the needed moisture for regrowth and other opportunities for the dead natural vegetation.
One of the primary benefits of rain in burnt areas is to stimulate the regeneration of plant life and reset the sterilized soil that has killed off seeds or microorganisms.
Rainwater, however, can also help leech away harmful chemicals and ash. Additionally, the moisture allows surviving seeds to germinate and sprout within the initial process in our ecosystem.
The Dark Side of Rain: Erosion and Landslides in Burnt Areas
The hazard is that rain from the destructive forces homes in hillsides, including landslides, debris, and flow from the desertion of the vegetation in the burnt areas, they’re now exposed and vulnerable.
Moreover, the rain can also aid in the damage of other homes that are below the wildfires or in the path of it, where the soil is unstabilized, and create damage to those homes through the erosion of the flooding. Rainwater can replenish the groundwater supply, but it can also be the next natural disaster because of the depletion and degradation of the watershed.
The current La Niña event is now in full swing. As we’ve noted previously, these emerging weather events can come out of nowhere. Sometimes they can predict them, most of the time they cannot. We just followed El Nino and other events for the last two years of ’22, ‘23, and ’24. Now in ’25, the damage continues.
These weather events are proven to be unpredictable, as we saw when the hurricane came out of nowhere last year and attacked a music festival in Las Vegas.
Protecting Your Home from Rain Damage After Wildfires
What’s most important to us as homeowners is that if you see any bubbling on the inside or the outside of the protective surface, or any debris or anything growing that you should reach out immediately to a certified company to come in with an infrared camera and do the investigation.
At Absolute Maintenance Consulting, we have over 37 years of experience as a family-owned business investigating and looking at water damage-related issues on your property, whether you think you have them or not, and giving you a trustworthy report of exactly what needs to be done to protect your property.
Call Absolute Maintenance & Consulting today for that certified service. This month, in March 2025, no charge.
SERVICES:
- Water Intrusion Investigation & Leak Detection
- Waterproofing anywhere on a home or building envelope
- Waterproofing Stucco
- Deck Coating
- Mold Remediation
- Water Damage
- Restoration
- Flashing around roofing, flat roofs, foundations, & basements
- Fire ash/soot cleanup to exterior and interior
