State crews continue to pump out hundreds of thousands of gallons of water and tons of mud and debris that formed a deep pool on U.S. Highway 101 after this month’s deadly mudslide. Engineers and crews are working 12-hour shifts, 24 hours a day, to drain the freeway, says the California Dept. of Transportation. The pool, which was up to 8 ft deep and a quarter-mile long, is being pumped out by Vactor trucks with the help of private contractors. The mudslide hit the Santa Barbara County city of Montecito on Jan. 9, killing 20 people and leaving four missing. Caused by heavy rains rushing down hillsides scorched by wildfires, the slide spread over 30 sq miles and destroyed or damaged hundreds of homes. Caltrans expects to reopen the highway the week of Jan. 22.