Video: Fiery Explosions After Hydrant Geyser Hits Power Lines In Hollywood
A fire hydrant geyser at Santa Monica and Highland soaked high-voltage power lines, causing at least two fiery explosions.
A car crashed into the fire hydrant near the intersection in Hollywood shortly before 7 a.m. on Thursday, sending a column of water shooting almost 60 feet into the air, according to KTLA. Directly above the hydrant was an electrical pole, which wound up getting drenched. As you can imagine, water and electricity are not a good combination, and the result was a handful of fiery and smoke-filled explosions from conductors atop the pole. Firefighters at the scene were seen scurrying off during the explosions.
Sky5 captured this dramatic explosion that sent firefighters running from a column of flames that shot down a power pole after it was doused by a sheared fire hydrant in Hollywood Thursday morning. Two power conductors that were getting drenched atop the power pole sparked the explosion, according to officials on scene. No injuries were initially reported. Watch KTLA’s video here: http://ktlane.ws/1NJHVjf
Posted by KTLA 5 News on Thursday, August 27, 2015
Water and electricity was eventually shut down around 8:30 a.m., and over 100 customers were initially without power. City News Service reports that the woman driving the car that crashed into the hydrant spoke to police but was not arrested or cited, and that the crash remains under investigation.
No injuries were reported by the L.A. Fire Department, either from the explosions or the crash.
Update: The driver, Shynell Branson, says she was driving home after just quitting her job and felt her brakes go out. "It was either go into the oncoming traffic or turn," she told ABC 7. "There were people at the bus stop, and I didn't want to hit them."
What a way to leave your job.
Scary scene in #Hollywood after car sheers off fire hydrant Santa Monica & Highland; sparked 2 explosions! @KNX1070 pic.twitter.com/znr1m4W3ys
— Margaret Carrero (@KNXmargaret) August 27, 2015
Fire crews keeping their distance after sheered fire hydrant knocks down power lines . #Hollywood @KNX1070 @CBSLA pic.twitter.com/5RIPwN1gqa
— Margaret Carrero (@KNXmargaret) August 27, 2015
Water pressure down dramatically in #Hollywood where car took out fire hydrant. @KNX1070 @CBSLA pic.twitter.com/ea6q8sZXli
— Margaret Carrero (@KNXmargaret) August 27, 2015