LOS ANGELES, CA – A Los Angeles Fire Department inspector is recovering after narrowly escaping his SUV when it was swept off the road by a powerful debris flow and plunged approximately 30 feet into the Pacific Ocean during Thursday’s intense storm.
The firefighter was driving along Pacific Coast Highway near Big Rock in Malibu around 5 p.m. when heavy rain triggered a surge of mud and water, overwhelming barriers and forcing his vehicle over the edge of a steep hillside. Officials estimate that nearly two inches of rain fell in the area, leading to hazardous road conditions.
Video from the scene showed the damaged SUV partially submerged in the surf Friday morning as waves crashed over it.
“A significant drop that that vehicle tumbled through, was pushed around by the surf … He might have even had to use a knife to cut his seatbelt to get himself free,” said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Erik Scott. “The fact that our member was able to walk away, we’re just so thankful.”
Despite the dramatic fall, the firefighter managed to exit the vehicle and make his way to safety. Video taken after the incident showed him climbing over a fence, where his stunned colleagues rushed to check on him. He was taken to a hospital for evaluation but sustained only minor injuries.
“We spoke with our #Firefighter #Inspector, and fortunately, he just returned home from medical care and is resting comfortably with his family,” Scott said in an update posted on X.
Officials are working to recover the SUV from the ocean. Crews planned to use a large tow truck equipped with a boom and cables to retrieve the vehicle during low tide Friday afternoon.
