Flooding

Major portions of the first and second floor of the Glendale Galleria shut down Tuesday and 12 stores were closed after a fire sprinkler broke flooding the area just south of the food court, fire officials said. A sprinkler head was apparently damaged at about 11 a.m. as construction employees were working at the site of a new Hollister store, on the second floor of Galleria, directly above Lady Foot Locker, Glendale Capt. Bill Lynch said. "There was a large amount of water at high pressure coming from the second floor," Glendale Capt.

A broken pipe at the Montrose-Crescenta Library damaged 2,000 children's books. One classroom of kids wanted to do more than read soggy books. They started raising money. Second-grade teacher Janie Roach returned to the library with her Fremont Elementary School class, not for another field trip, but to donate some money students had raised. The donation of $129 in bills and more than a few pocketfuls of coins, will not replace all the books damaged in the flooding, but it is a start.

Heavy rains meant extra work for firefighters and highway patrol officers this week, as calls of minor flooding and traffic accidents increased dramatically. The California Highway Patrol reported approximately three times as many calls as normal over Tuesday and Wednesday, said Sgt. Paul Gouailhardou of the Altadena station. "We were running all over the place." The CHP arrested 16 people on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol from Friday afternoon through Sunday night.

Joshua M. Pelzer GLENDALE - Heavy storms swept through the region Saturday, bringing record rains and causing flooding and traffic hazards in some areas. A low-pressure jet stream moving east combined with an upper-level, low- pressure system bringing two-to-four inches of rain across the region, National Weather Service Meteorologist Bill Hoffer said. "The atmosphere is still saturated from the storm and until it dries out, we have a lot of low-level moisture lying around," he said.

Ben Godar Heavy rains caused street flooding, car accidents and other problems Wednesday, but as of late afternoon, no landslides or serious injuries were reported as a result of the weather. The area above Brand Park, scorched by a September fire, weathered the storm without any slides. But the rain was so intense it caused flood drains to back up and flood some streets, particularly San Fernando Road, said Al Lee, Glendale's assistant maintenance services administrator.

Fire department provides storm tips The Glendale Fire Department is providing the following safety tips to assist residents in preparation for rain storms, wind and the possibility of neighborhood flooding: ?Maintain clear and clean rain gutters and scuppers. Removal of debris will prevent accumulation and the potential for roof leaks and failures. ?Provide and maintain easy water and debris drainage from your property. ?Operate motor vehicles at a reduced speed to avoid hydroplaning, loss of control and accidents.

LA CAÑADA — A brief but intense rainstorm late Thursday night sent mud and rocks into the streets of several hillside neighborhoods, damaging cars and flooding half a dozen homes. The storm dropped 1 to 2 inches of rain in less than 20 minutes, fire officials said, enough to loosen the fire-damaged slopes above La Crescenta and La Cañada Flintridge. About 11 p.m., mud began pouring over cement barriers installed last month by Los Angeles County Public Works crews, filling some streets and seeping into yards and homes.

GLENDALE — The first of three storms expected to bring more than 4 inches of rain hit Glendale on Friday and will intensify through the weekend, weather officials said. The first system was a slow mover that arrived in California later than most forecasts had predicted, said Bill Hoffer, spokesman for the National Weather Service Forecast Office. “There was about five or six hours of delay in there,” he said. Between one-tenth and two-tenths of an inch was falling per hour by early Friday afternoon, with a considerable surge anticipated, he said.

Jackson Bell Eddie Kesh spent the better part of his day cleaning his tea shop, Lumiere, that was flooded by 1 1/2 feet from the downpour that started Monday night and continued through Tuesday. He estimated thousands of dollars in damage to his wood furniture and flooring. "It's hard," he said. "Not only have I lost a lot of money, now I have to close to clean up, and just hope the hard rain doesn't strike again." Lumiere was one of several shops in the 2400 block of Honolulu Avenue in Montrose disrupted by the rain.

Ben Godar A business that specializes in renting props and costumes to the movie industry sustained several thousand dollars worth of damage when three transients allegedly flooded it in an act of retaliation. When Armies of the World owner Laurene Miller came into the store Saturday morning, she found herself standing in about 4 inches of standing water. Someone apparently had pushed a hose -- kept behind the store -- underneath a door and turned the water on. Police later arrested 39-year-old Michael Leadingfighter of Glendale, 42-year-old Jeril Ann Perry of Glendale and 43-year-old Garnett Alvin Summers of Glendale on suspicion of flooding the store in retaliation for a previous incident.

A flash flood warning has been issued for La Crescenta, La Canada Flintridge and the surrounding foothills as potential for rain at 1 inch or more per hour until 4:45 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. Residents who live near the Station fire burn area were warned to be especially careful for possible flash flooding and mud flows. Small hail has already been reported in La Canada. -- Jason Wells, Times Community News Follow Jason Wells on Google+ and on Twitter: @JasonBretWells

A winter storm cell moving over the region dropped hail and caused minor flooding in La Cañada Flintridge Thursday afternoon. Flooding was reported at a home in the 5400 block of Godbey Drive in La Cañada, said Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Tom Richards. A patrol vehicle was at the home, where flooding appeared to minor, he added. Fast-moving water flowed down Ocean View Boulevard and into the nearby Mullaly flood control basin, but there appeared to be little mud or debris coming down from this hillsides, Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station Sgt. Debra Herman said around 3 p.m. Weather forecasters issued a flash flooding alert until 4:45 p.m. as the storm passed overhead, bringing with it hail, lightning and periodic downpours across the region, including in Glendale.

As Glendale officials take more time to review proposals that could restrict smoking in apartment buildings, City Council members have been getting an earful from residents in favor of stricter rules. “In advance of the decision-making and the hearing, they're proactively reaching out, which is generally only seen in more high-profile issues,” said Councilman Ara Najarian. Officials postponed reviewing the controversial matter to give staff another 30 days to focus their proposals, said City Manager Scott Ochoa, adding that the city attorney will also be reviewing the report before it comes back for an initial review.

Though the school year is drawing to a close, activities remain plentiful. Glendale High’s outgoing PTSA President Sydney Swainston reports that her group has the Senior Awards and Baccalaureate coming up while students tackle tests and year-end projects, balanced out by dances, field trips, promotion events and graduation. “Schedules get crazy,” says Swainston, “but I encourage taking time to have dinner as a family or find quiet time to talk and relax. It’s important that our kids know that we love and support them, especially when they can get stressed over tests and grades.” Glendale High School “One More Time” ushers in senior prom from 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday at the Aquarium of the Pacific.

Locals bracing for a sloppy Saturday and possible mudslides in the hills instead enjoyed a cool, breezy calm between the storms. Friday night saw powerful winds and about half an inch of rain at Bob Hope Airport, while a flood watch was in effect in the hills through early Sunday morning because of expected thunderstorms late Saturday and early Sunday. Snow levels in the mountains around Los Angeles were expected to dip to 3,500 feet or lower, according to the National Weather Service.

GLENDALE — The Station fire burn area could get pounded with up to 6 inches of rain by Sunday, prompting flash-flood warnings and renewed fears of debris flows. The National Weather Service on Friday warned hillside residents that flash flooding and debris flows were possible through Sunday. The cold storm is expected to bring its heaviest rainfall this afternoon. Some mountain regions could also see wind gusts of up to 70 mph, while local winds will likely be closer to 35 mph, according to the weather service.

LA CRESCENTA — While an early-season storm Wednesday caused havoc for motorists on the roadways, local foothills that were scarred during the Station Fire went unscathed. Public Works officials said the recently-burned foothills fared well during the storm, which was expected to bring a half-inch to an inch of rain. The National Weather Service on Wednesday advised residents who live in the recent burn areas to monitor reports during the storm because those areas are susceptible to flooding and debris flows.

Honolulu Avenue met Bavaria on Saturday, as the 33rd annual Oktoberfest celebration drew thousands to the Montrose Shopping District to sip beer, sample bratwurst and enjoy live bands and carnival rides. Attendees characterized Oktoberfest, hosted by the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce, as an annual homecoming where locals are likely to run into neighbors and old friends. "We call it our high school reunion. Everyone comes out," said volunteer Armine Akopyan, a 2005 graduate of Crescenta Valley High School.

LA CRESCENTA — Heavy rain prompted flood warnings, evacuations and spurred a mudflow that damaged one home in La Cañada Flintridge during the first day of an expected week of showers. A total of 3.15 inches was measured in the foothill community of Briggs Terrace during the heaviest rainfall Monday, said Bob Gregg, a local water observer for the Los Angeles County Flood Control District. Officials had predicted as much as 6 inches of rain to fall on the foothills during this storm.