Collapsed drain pipe prompts search
EL CENTRO — No inhabitants were found during a multi-agency search of a collapsed drain pipe at about 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Imperial Valley Commons, the El Centro Fire Department reported.
It was initially suspected that at least two homeless individuals may have been trapped inside the collapsed drain pipe, located just east of Kohl’s, the department reported.
After initially assessing the situation, responding firefighters requested mutual aid in order to perform a search of the confined space and storm drain system, a press release stated.
A subsequent two-hour search determined no inhabitants inside the drain system. Following the search, a tactical decision was made to perform a trench and excavation operation, where heavy equipment was used to unearth the deteriorating drain pipe.
The drainage pipes are made of a plastic polyethylene blend and had at some unknown time been damaged by fire, causing the pipe to collapse, said ECFD Battalion Chief Cedric Ceseña.
The damaged drain system and connecting retention basins are on private property and will not impact the city’s stormwater runoff infrastructure at all, said Abraham Campos, Public Works Department director/city engineer.
Rescue crews remained on the scene until 5 p.m. The ECPD crew consisted of one engine company, a rescue squad, an Urban Search & Rescue trailer, a battalion chief and six firefighters.
Additional resources were provided by Naval Air Facility El Centro, Imperial County, Imperial and Calexico fire departments.
Mutual aid consisted of one engine company, a truck company, a heavy rescue squad, one utility vehicle, a hazardous materials unit, an Urban Search & Rescue trailer and battalion chief, totaling 13 additional firefighters, ECFD reported.
AMR Ambulance responded with one ambulance for medical standby. The American Red Cross, Imperial Irrigation District, city of El Centro Code Enforcement Division, Southern California Gas, AT&T, Charter Communications, city of El Centro Public Works Department and the El Centro Police Department were also on hand.
No injuries were reported.