On Friday, February 14, 2025, Santa Monica Closeup traversed the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) from Pacific Palisades to Malibu to assess the aftermath of recent storms that have led to significant flooding and mudslides. Throughout the route, firefighters and Caltrans personnel were actively engaged in clearing the roads of accumulated mud and debris.
During the survey, our team observed the recovery operation of a Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) vehicle that had been swept into the ocean. The incident occurred on Thursday evening near Big Rock, when a firefighter inspector driving northbound on PCH encountered a sudden deluge of water, mud, and debris. This surge overwhelmed the roadway, propelling his vehicle over a cliff and into the ocean approximately 30 feet below. Remarkably, the firefighter managed to extricate himself from the submerged vehicle, ascend the cliff, and was subsequently transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. He is currently recovering at home.
The following day, LAFD deployed a heavy rescue unit to retrieve the vehicle. Utilizing a large tow truck equipped with a boom and cables, firefighters meticulously hoisted the car back onto the roadway, ensuring safety throughout the operation. The entire recovery process commenced around noon and was completed in approximately 30 minutes. Captain Erik Scott, Public Information Officer for LAFD, commended the firefighters for their outstanding performance during this challenging recovery.
The recent storm has caused widespread disruption along the PCH, with multiple mudslides and flooding incidents leading to road closures and significant cleanup efforts. Authorities continue to monitor the situation and are working diligently to restore normalcy to the affected areas.
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๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ผ ๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐น๐ฒ๐น๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐๐ฒ. ๐๐ป๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด, ๐ฟ๐ฒ-๐๐ฝ๐น๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด, ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ป๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐น๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ต๐ถ๐ฏ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ.
ยฉ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐๐ธ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐/๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฎ ๐ ๐ผ๐ป๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ ๐๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฝ. ๐๐น๐น ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ.
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Fabian Lewkowicz, an award-winning accredited photojournalist and press photographer based in Santa Monica, is renowned for his captivating imagery and storytelling. As the creator of Santa Monica Closeup, he draws on years of experience with local media outlets like the Santa Monica Daily Press and The Corsair to capture iconic moments in the city's history.
Santa Monica Closeup is a visual chronicle of the vibrant and diverse community of Santa Monica, brought to life through Fabian's seasoned lens. With deep roots in the city, he offers an authentic and intimate glimpse into everyday life, crafting compelling videos that resonate with both locals and visitors alike.
Fabian's photographs have been showcased in a wide range of venues, from museums and art galleries to hospitals, department stores, banks, and public institutions like fire and police stations. His photography captures the essence of Santa Monica, portraying everything from its breathtaking landscapes and stunning sunsets to its unique culture and diverse community.
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TAGS: Photojournalism, Photojournalist, Documentary, Cinema Verite, Fly-on-the-wall, Observational Photography, Press Photography, SMCU, SMยฉU