Debris Flow Shuts Down Portion Of Laurel Canyon Boulevard In Hollywood Hills
HOLLYWOOD HILLS (CBSLA.com) — A debris flow shut down a portion of Laurel Canyon Boulevard in the Hollywood Hills Wednesday.
The stretch of road, between Gould Avenue and Kirkwood Drive, was expected to remain closed through Thursday morning, authorities said.
The closure caused a significant traffic backup. Coldwater Canyon and Cahuenga Boulevard both provide alternate routes to Laurel Canyon.
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The Los Angeles Fire Department sent a search and rescue team with specialized equipment to the 8100 block of West Gould Avenue in the Hollywood Hills early Wednesday afternoon.
A large slab of concrete at that location had become "compromised" and was at risk of falling down a hillside, fire officials said.
Later, a 9,000 pound slab of concrete from the home's foundation and retaining wall fell down the hillside and landed near the road below, the LAFD's Margaret Stewart said.
The incident comes amid a week of steady rainstorms.
The couple who rent the damaged home safely evacuated. No injuries were reported.
Fire inspectors Wednesday afternoon deemed the house uninhabitable.
Firefighters were also placing sand bags to divert rain that was expected to arrive late Wednesday night, Stewart said.
Authorities said the road closure will last at least through Thursday morning.
"Once the roadway is deemed safe, Street Services will begin the clearing process," she said.
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