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.

Less than an inch of rain fell in most areas, but it was enough to loosen Los Angeles hillsides burned bare by the recent blaze near the Pacific Palisades.

Rain was falling across Southern California on Sunday, bringing some relief to thousands of firefighters battling multiple major blazes for nearly a month in the Los Angeles area, but also prompting new threats of floods and mudslides across burn-scarred lands.

The Red Cross has set up a temporary evacuation shelter at Cuyamaca College, 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway in El Cajon. Christine Welch, regional communications director for the Red Cross, said 31 people and 12 pets stayed at the shelter overnight Friday and 68 people slept in RVs in the parking lot.