Overturned Fire Hydrant Causes Debris Flow In Hollywood Hills Neighborhood

HOLLYWOOD (CBSLA.com) — Mud and debris flooded a hillside in Hollywood Wednesday causing officials to close several streets.

Firefighters were sent around 12:30 a.m. to the 8400 block of Grandview Drive for report of a broken water main, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Upon their arrival, authorities located an overturned fire hydrant flooding the streets. They closed Sunset Boulevard between Kings and Queens roads due to the extent of the debris flow.

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power crews have been sent to assist at the scene.

CBS2's Amber Lee reported from the scene and waded through the muck, several feet worth.

The mud covered real estate signs and driveways.

Joe Gallaher lives up the street from the major flow area and even so, he wasn't able to leave his neighborhood.

"It's crazy," Gallaher said, "I was driving down to get some coffee around 7 this morning. And I see this huge pile of mud and I'm like 'What the hell is going on?'"

CBS News reporter Teri Okita is used to being on the other side of the camera, covering these type of events. This time she related as a homeowner also caught in the path of the mud and debris.

"It was about 12:20 this morning," Okita said, "and it sounded like rain was coming down. And I was [saying] 'What is that?' And I went outside and it was just coming down like a waterfall."

She tried using trash cans and cardboard to try to divert some of the mess but it wasn't enough.

"Luckily," she says, "it didn't go inside my hour. My garage, backyard, front yard, part of the front yard, I can't get out. Two of my gates to my house are just blocked by mud and debris."

Cleanup crews hope to have the roads re-opened by Thursday morning.

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