4 Homeless People, 5 Animals Rescued From Flood Near Sepulveda Basin

4 Homeless People, 5 Animals Rescued From Flood Near Sepulveda Basin
The Los Angeles River, swollen by storm runoff, flows strongly downstream toward the Pacific Ocean in Los Angeles, on Feb, 24, 2023. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
City News Service
2/25/2023
Updated:
3/2/2023
0:00

VAN NUYS, Calif.—Three homeless men, one woman, four dogs, and a cat were rescued by Los Angeles Fire Department helicopter personnel near a remote and heavily flooded area near the Sepulveda Flood Control Basin, authorities said Feb. 25.

Rescue workers were called at 11:12 p.m. Friday to the 15700 block of West Burbank Boulevard near Haskell Creek where the helicopter hovered over the area at water level to rescue the victims and the animals, fire department’s spokesman Brian Humphrey said.

The homeless victims and the pets were flown directly to the Los Angeles Fire Department Air Operations facility at Van Nuys Airport, where they were evaluated by paramedics. Medical staff determined that two of the victims were suffering from hypothermia and were taken to a hospital for treatment, said Humphrey.

The two remaining adults declined transportation to a hospital.