Downed tree cuts power to Studio City residents for 3 days
A tree fell over Friday at about 11 p.m., knocking out power to apartments and businesses on Arch Drive near Ventura Blvd. in Studio City.
Affected residents were told LADWP crews could not repair the power lines until the tree was cut down. But the apartment complex where the tree was located still had power, and that building's management company reportedly did not act with urgency.
The downed tree at the Arch Drive location was on private property.
Neighbors remained in the dark through the weekend continuing Monday morning.
Some residents on the street hired a private contractor to begin cutting up the downed tree after a Good Samaritan drove by the incident Sunday and offered to pay for the contractor. The unidentified man reportedly got a fortune cookie recently that said he was going to help people in need, so he stopped and that's what he did. He reportedly paid $3,000.
LADWP crews were on scene by 10 a.m. Monday.
"No hot water. Our fridges are out, our food is rotting. No gas, no electricity for about 50 hours now," said local resident Lauren Tominac. "Freezing cold. It's warmer out here than it is in our apartments."
Hundreds of trees and power lines have come down across the Southland due to the latest massive winter storm.
The city of Los Angeles has received more than 1,700 calls from Wednesday to Sunday.
Trees on city property are the city's responsibility for cleanup and repairs, but the downed tree on Arch Drive was on private property.
