An overflowing swimming pool sent thousands of gallons of water into a Hollywood Hills slope Friday afternoon, contributing to a partial hillside collapse that damaged a building below and forced eight apartment units to evacuate.
Los Angeles firefighters responded to the area of North Wilcox Avenue after water had saturated the hillside and debris began coming down the slope. Cinder blocks and other material fell onto the structure below, creating a dangerous situation for nearby residents.
Fortunately, the building at the bottom of the hillside was vacant at the time, so no one was inside when the debris came down. Firefighters reported no injuries.
The collapse also prompted crews to evacuate an apartment complex located above the affected area while officials assessed the stability of the hillside and surrounding structures.
Aerial footage from the scene showed a large opening near the damaged building, highlighting how much soil and supporting material had shifted.
Project manager William Daher said he heard a series of loud crashing sounds before noticing debris falling from above. He then went toward the apartment complex and saw that the pool was overflowing.
Daher shut off the main water line before fire crews arrived, helping stop additional water from entering the hillside.
Firefighters worked to remove water from the pool while crews also took steps to stabilize the damaged area. About 6,000 gallons of water were ultimately siphoned from the pool.
The Los Angeles Fire Department later said the reported source of the flooding was a garden hose that had been running long enough to cause the pool to overflow. Officials said the exact amount of time the hose had been running was unknown.
The incident raised concerns about how quickly excess water can affect a hillside when it reaches already vulnerable ground. Fire officials also emphasized the importance of reporting unusual flooding or other potentially dangerous conditions before they escalate.
The pool area and portions of the damaged structure at the bottom of the hill were red-tagged by city building officials, meaning those areas were restricted because of safety concerns.
After the area was assessed and the immediate danger was brought under control, the residents who had been evacuated were allowed to return to their homes later that day.
No injuries were reported, but the incident left a damaged structure, a partially collapsed hillside and a reminder of how a seemingly minor water problem can quickly become a serious safety issue on steep terrain.
