.png)
A home on Hanscom Drive in South Pasadena was structurally damaged, mostly underneath the driveway Tuesday night. Fire, Urban rescue and police officials were stationed up and down the hill. Nearby homes were evacuated. No injuries were reported by rescue officials on scene.
According to presiding chief Chris Szenczi of the South Pasadena Fire Department the home itself had not suffered any known damage.
He went on to say:
“(The) driveway structure- there was a water leak underneath it, so the driveway and the supporting members that are holding the driveway started to collapse, so the driveway is sagging right now. It doesn’t appear that the house has been affected at all. We’ve got everybody evacuated.”
Presiding Chief Szenczi also mentioned that they were utilizing “…personnel from Alhambra , evaluating structural stability.”
“We also have a structural engineer(s) from Pasadena as well as the Building Department from South Pasadena That are going to come in and evaluate the main structure. Our main concern is that the main structure is structurally sound, that it’s not going to slide down.”
Regarding the worst case of the house possibly sliding down the hill, “We have currently evacuated residents below on Peterson, for safety precautions.”
Another fire official guided along with a flashlight the points of structural damage and sagging.
“…You can see water falling into the retaining area, (which) lost a supporting member. We’re trying to figure out a way to secure it so if it continues to fall it doesn’t push the house down the hill, but these houses don’t slide easily.”
