The break occurred in an 8-inch cast iron pip on the 6000 block of Fountain Avenue just north of Santa Monica Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
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Thousands of gallons of water from the main break were flooding down the street, causing a hazard for residents in the area.
"I knew water could do a lot but I did not know it could do all that," said resident Normar Baca-Carrillo.
It took about an hour to get the water shut off. The break left a large sinkhole open on the street.
Water main break in Hollywood sends river gushing down streets
Firefighters who responded to the scene had a close call when the back part of the fire engine fell into the hole.
As the only all-wheel drive fire engine in the fleet, officials said Fire Engine 82 gained enough traction to pull itself out of the hole.
One nearby home appeared to have suffered a partial roof collapse from the water. A woman inside the home was rescued by firefighters, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
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There were no injuries immediately reported. The damage to property was still being assessed Friday morning and clean-up efforts were underway.