Water main break on Melrose causes major flooding and extensive damage

(CNS/FOX 11) - A water main break flooded a stretch of Melrose Avenue in the Fairfax district this afternoon, inundating at least two businesses and shutting down the busy thoroughfare.

The break was reported about 4:35 p.m. in the 7500 block of Melrose Avenue, near Gardner Street, according to Erik Scott of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Firefighters used sandbags to divert the deluge, but "a few" businesses experienced minor flooding, according to Scott, who said only one business sustained damage and it was minor.

The break was in a 6-inch cast iron main, according to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which dispatched crews to make repairs.

Firefighters and utility crews shut down the water flow, which did some damage to pavement and a sidewalk, Scott said.

About 20 DWP customers were without water service and were expected to remain so until about 1 a.m. Saturday, the utility reported.

Melrose was closed to traffic between Gardner Street and Curson Avenue and not expected to reopen until about 3 a.m. Saturday, according to the DWP.