Exceptionally dry weather has targeted Southern California so far this winter, creating ideal conditions for wildfires.

So far, many clues to the origins of the deadly Eaton fire, which started in the area just after 6 p.m. that evening and went on to kill 17 people, have pointed to the brushy hillside where a tangle of electrical lines stretch up Eaton Canyon.

Much-needed rain has begun to fall over Southern California, bringing relief to the drought-stricken region but also the threat of toxic runoff.

The recent storm brought some much needed moisture to Southern California without the dangerous mudslides some feared. But did it help reduce the fire danger?

Mudflows prompted the closures of at least some roads, including in Topanga Canyon and on parts of the Pacific Coast Highway.

This file captures the news of the California wildfires from Sunday, Jan. 27. For the latest updates on the fires, follow USA TODAY's coverage for Monday, Jan. 27. Intermittent showers sweeping across Southern California on Sunday provided welcome relief for firefighters battling devastating wildfires but threatened to bring an unwelcome side effect — mudslides.

When Californians turn on their showers and fill up their coffee makers on Tuesday, President Donald Trump wants credit. He’s been criticizing the state’s water use since major fires began in Los Angeles in early January,

Donald Trump said the U.S. military entered California and opened a large flow of water to fight fires, but state officials denied those claims.

California on Tuesday denied President Donald Trump's claim that the U.S. military entered the state to release more water in the wake of deadly wildfires. In a Truth Social post late on Monday, Trump wrote: "The United States Military just entered the Great State of California and,