Giant Gusher Helps EP Beat the Heat, But Not Traffic

A truck clipped a  fire hydrant near the corner of Glendale Boulevard and Allessandro Street on Thursday around 6 p.m., creating a giant gusher that slowed northbound traffic.

Giant Gusher At Freeway Entrance

Student and activist Paula Gonzalez tweeted the accompanying image of the gusher as she was heading toward the 2 freeway on Glendale Boulevard.

Greater Echo Park Neighborhood Council President Jose Sigala chimed in, tweeting that traffic was backed up after police shut down a lane of traffic.

Los Angles Fire Department crews were the first to arrive on the scene.

They didn't have the tools they needed and requested the more specialized Department of Water and Power crews.

As LAFD Chief Brian Cummings said in a tweet to Echo Park Patch, "We respond and control the hazard until DWP can send a crew."

Break May Have Been Deep

According to Joe Ramallo of the LADWP, the damage may have been deep if firefighters could not turn it off initially.

LADWP crews had the fire hydrant back in service by 7:30 p.m.