Burst Water Main Floods Woodman Avenue in Sherman Oaks

Floodwaters from a broken 8-inch main in Sherman Oaks threatened underground parking structures while buckling pavement and knocking out service to as many as 900 apartments or townhomes, authorities said.

The flooding was reported at 5:09 p.m. in the 4400 block of Woodman Avenue, near Moorpark Street, Erik Scott of the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

The water, which flowed down both sides of the street, neared curb tops but did not enter any structures and no property damage was reported, Scott said.

Firefighters used water-filled 4-inch hoses to keep the water from entering buildings or underground garages through driveways, Scott said.

Woodman Avenue was expected to remain closed overnight between Milbank and Moorpark streets, Scott said.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power reported about 6:15 p.m. that the flow of water had been cut off and crews would begin repairs.

Some residents were unable to drive their vehicles from underground parking structures “due to unsafe street buckling,” Scott said.

Scott said two fire hydrants were also out of service.

There was no estimate of how long repairs would take, Kim Hughes of the DWP said.

Scott said DWP crews called in heavy equipment.

City News Service