Fire hydrant floods Florence Avenue after driver swerves to avoid collision

DOWNEY – A motorist trying to avoid an accident on Wednesday swerved and knocked off a fire hydrant on Florence Avenue, touching off a fountain of water that flooded the street until a maintenance crew dug up a valve and shut off the water.

The crash just west of Paramount Boulevard took place a few minutes before 6 p.m. and no one was hurt, according to the Downey Police.

Normally, the fire department can quickly shut off pressure by turning a valve that’s usually nearby in a hole in the street.

For some reason, the fire department couldn’t access the valve and water district employees had to be called for help, according to Jason Patao, a spokesman for the Downey Fire Department.

It’s the second time in a year that the fire department had trouble shutting down a fire hydrant water valve.

Firefighters and public works crews in September struggled for more than 40 minutes to shut off a valve at Cecilia Street and Lakewood Boulevard after a crash caused a driver to crash into and shear off a fire hydrant at that intersection.

- Photo courtesy of Roger Brossmer