Homes Flooded After Levee Bursts In Fresno County
SANGER (CBS/AP) -- Water officials are looking into what caused a levee to burst, sending flood waters rushing across a Fresno County highway and into farmland and homes.
The Fresno Bee reports a section of the Alta Irrigation District main canal levee was ruptured Sunday evening.
Water flooded across Highway 180 near Sanger, prompting a temporary shutdown of the westbound lane.
Cal Fire Capt. Ryan Michaels says the water was knee-high in some areas and a few families fled after the initial breach. Most families stayed put, however. There was no immediate estimate on the damage to homes.
Michaels says a control valve near Avocado Lake was closed to stop the flow of water to the canal, which kept the overflow to a minimum.
Investigators are working to pin down the cause of the breach.
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