Firefighters rescue woman, man and dog from rain-swollen L.A. River
Firefighters spent nearly two hours trying to rescue a woman, her dog and a man from the rain-swollen Los Angeles River on Monday afternoon.
Rescue crews were called around 2:13 p.m. to the river’s Sepulveda Basin, where they saw a woman in the water with her dog, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Firefighters began rescue operations with the water moving at an estimated 5 to 10 mph.
Crews used a rope system to lower a firefighter to the woman and her dog, firefighters said. They got a rescue ring to the woman, but she abandoned the device as she tried to keep hold of her dog.
Firefighters were eventually able to lower a rescuer from a helicopter who secured the woman, authorities said. Crews also tracked her dog about 200 feet downriver and continued efforts to save the frightened canine.
The storm could drop up to 4 inches of rain in mountain areas and 2 inches in the valleys and along the coasts. Eighteen inches of snow may fall above 6,000 feet.
The dog, however, fought a rescuer and broke loose, firefighters said.
At one point, a man jumped into the water to try to save the dog, and crews had to launch a second human rescue operation, firefighters said.
The man grabbed on to a rope that other bystanders had lowered into the river, authorities said. He was eventually secured by firefighters, who warned bystanders to stay out of the river.
A vigorous storm system moved into the Southland on Monday, offering much-needed rain and high-elevation snow to the drought-stricken region — along with the threat of lightning, flash floods, road hazards and small hail.
Crews were able to secure the dog shortly after 4 p.m., firefighters said.
The man who jumped into the water to try to save the dog was transported to a hospital with bite wounds, firefighters said. The woman didn’t require medical transport.
It was not clear how the woman and her dog initially ended up in the river.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
