Crews pull fire truck from LA sinkhole

[September 09, 2009]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Crews using a crane and tow trucks pulled a 22-ton fire engine from a massive sinkhole that opened Tuesday as the vehicle was responding to a broken water main on a Los Angeles street.

Four firefighters escaped injury as mud and water poured into the vehicle's cabin in a San Fernando Valley neighborhood, said Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Steve Ruda. .

The firefighters were trying to back the engine out of the street when the pavement collapsed. Water likely damaged the radio and computer system in the cab but the $500,000 fire engine was salvageable, Ruda said.

The sinkhole was caused by a broken, 6-inch cast iron pipe.

The Department of Water and Power said it was unlikely the burst pipe was related to another one that broke two miles away over the weekend and flooded homes and cars.

Department spokeswoman Kim Hughes said water in the area was turned off Tuesday after the sinkhole swallowed the truck. Crews had to pump water from the hole so they could lift the vehicle.

They were also inspecting for possible damage to gas and sewer lines.

It was not immediately determined what caused the rupture of the pipe that was installed in 1969 and designed to withstand significant water pressure, said David Nahai, the utility's chief executive and general manager.

Water service was restored in the area, but street repairs were expected to keep a major road across the Hollywood Hills closed at least until Friday.

On Saturday, a burst main in Studio City swept cars down streets, forced people out of their homes and flooded a section of a major boulevard.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.