With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
Fire out, gas shut after backhoe strikes gas main in Woodland HIlls
A gas main fire broke out in Woodland Hills Wednesday, setting a backhoe and nearby trees aflame.
()
The gas main fire broke out at 5858 Shoup Avenue.
(
Google Maps
)
A fire that broke out after a backhoe struck a gas main Wednesday in Woodland Hills has been extinguished, according to LADWP officials.
The agency said in a statement that one of its crews was on site installing service to an adjacent property when the gas main was struck.
The statement continues:
All scheduled, non-emergency, underground construction by LADWP crews is approved in advance and occurs only after utility lines are marked by the utility owner, or its contracted entity. At this time, the incident is under investigation to determine why the gas line was struck.
Support for LAist comes from
Update 2:28 p.m.: Evacuations ordered for homes near Woodland Hills gas main fire
A fire broke out in Woodland Hills Wednesday after a backhoe struck a gas main, prompting evacuations as firefighters battled the blaze.
The gas main fire broke out at 5858 Shoup Avenue, setting the backhoe and nearby trees aflame.
The fire department was unable to provide numbers for how many homes had been evacuated, but there are exposed buildings on three sides of the fire, according to Margaret Stewart, public information officer for the L.A. Fire Department. Homes at least a block to the west of the break were being evacuated, according to the Associated Press.
The gas main fire broke out at 5858 Shoup Avenue.
(
Google Maps
)
No injuries had been reported as of 2:15 p.m. Wednesday. More than 75 firefighters were on the scene, Stewart said.
Crews were working to keep the fire from spreading to adjacent trees while waiting for SoCal Gas to shut down the gas line, but a nearby pine tree ended up shooting embers into the residential neighborhoods to the west, a public information officer on the scene told the L.A. Daily News. Still, firefighters were able to protect the structures.
Support for LAist comes from
“We can’t extinguish this fire until the gas line is shut down,” Stewart said.
The gas company was on the scene, according to the PIO who spoke with the Daily News. He estimated that it would be two to three hours before the leak and the fire were extinguished.
https://twitter.com/JoeStudley/status/760937742599540736
This story has been updated.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high. -
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol. -
Kevin Lee's Tokyo Noir has become one of the top spots for craft-inspired cocktails. -
A tort claim obtained by LAist via a public records request alleges the Anaheim procurement department lacks basic contracting procedures and oversight. -
Flauta, taquito, tacos dorados? Whatever they’re called, they’re golden, crispy and delicious. -
If California redistricts, the conservative beach town that banned LGBTQ Pride flags on city property would get a gay, progressive Democrat in Congress.
Best of LAist