Broken Fire Hydrant Sends Water Gushing For Hours

A damaged fire hydrant flooded a street near downtown Los Angeles for hours after being struck by a vehicle early Wednesday morning.

At approximately 1:15 a.m. on July 16, 2026, crews from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Los Angeles Fire Department, and Los Angeles Police Department responded to the intersection of Santa Fe Avenue and Porter Street.

According to officials at the scene, a vehicle struck a fire hydrant, causing it to continuously discharge water. As of approximately 2:35 a.m., water was still flowing while DWP crews worked to shut off the damaged hydrant.

The flooding also affected the nearby traffic signal, leaving the intersection operating on flashing red lights.

Traffic was impacted while utility crews worked to control the leak and make repairs.

No injuries were reported.