Knee-Deep Water Floods Homes, Businesses In Van Nuys
Cleaning up a different water main break in LA | Photo by @sevenphoto via LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
A Van Nuys neighborhood woke to an early morning disaster when a 20-inch water main burst around 3:00 a.m. rushing knee-deep water into homes and businesses and leaving nearly 60 people displaced according to authorities, reports the LA TImes.
According to a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman, the break was reported on West Vanowen Street near Hayvenhurst Avenue. Firefighters arriving at the scene found18-inch-deep water flowing down both sides of Vanowen Street and into structures, while thousands of gallons reaching a 3-foot wall flooded several apartments, notes ABC Local.
LAFD checked homes in the area to make sure no one was trapped, and assisted people and pets from their flooded residences, relocating them to a nearby parking lot. Firefighters also rescued a dog found chained inside a kitchen. Reports ABC Local, "They heard the dog barking and kicked down the door to get inside."
Vanowen Street from Havenhurst and Woodley avenues were closed down to traffic because of the flooding. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power was able to shut off the water flow around 5:00 a.m. No injuries were reported.