Water Main Bursts, Forcing Part of Boulevard to Close
A water main that broke beneath Topanga Canyon Boulevard sent water spewing onto the busy street Thursday as firefighters worked to divert water from local storefronts between Vanowen and Bassett streets.
The force of the water opened a sinkhole at least 8 feet in diameter and the road was closed to traffic, said Battalion Chief Mark R. Jones of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
A sewer pipe may also have broken, said Carlos Calvillo, a squad captain in charge of hazardous materials. Remnants of a sewer pipe were floating near the sinkhole.
“The concern is whether it’s a sewer main or if it’s just a pipe going into a building,” Calvillo said.
Firefighters worked to fill the storm drains to prevent raw sewage from getting into flood channels, he said.
Topanga between Bassett and Vanowen will be closed for at least a day while the water main is repaired, Jones said.
“It’s going to be a nightmare for commuters,” he said.
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