4.0 Aftershock of Northridge Quake Jolts Area

A jolt that rocked parts of the San Fernando and neighboring valleys from Thousand Oaks to Woodland Hills on Wednesday afternoon was a 4.0-magnitude aftershock of the 1994 Northridge quake, according to Caltech spokeswoman Sue Pitts.

The 12:49 p.m. shaker was centered about five miles north-northeast of Simi Valley, about 9.5 miles beneath the surface, Pitts said.

Police and fire officials said that no one reported injuries or property damage in the sharp, lateral shock.

At the LAPD’s Devonshire police station in Northridge, police officers said they felt only a slight motion.

“I really felt it out there,” said Devonshire Division Sgt. Jill Niles, who was in Simi Valley when it hit. “When I got to the station I was surprised a lot of officers were talking about feeling it in the Valley.”

Police said they did not receive the usual flood of calls that have followed smaller, less noticeable aftershocks. “I was actually quite surprised that we got one call--just an inquiry,” said Simi Valley Police Lt. Archer Morgan. “Perhaps it was strong enough that it didn’t leave any doubt in anyone’s mind what it was.”