Los Angeles, Ca
Ventura residents told to evacuate after hazmat incident
The City of Ventura has told residents of several neighborhoods to evacuate due to a hazardous material incident.
The hazmat situation was first reported in the Pierpont neighborhood this past Thursday morning, officials said.
Evacuation warnings and orders were issued on Thursday but subsequently lifted by that evening.
Updates posted to the city’s emergency alert webpage indicate that potentially dangerous levels of hydrocarbon vapors were detected on Bayshore Avenue on Sunday morning.
The Ventura Police Department initially issued an evacuation warning that urged residents to leave on Sunday, but a mandatory evacuation order was put in place soon after.
An additional alert message was sent to 4,048 residents south of Seaward Avenue, west of Harbor Boulevard and east of Schooner Drive, cautioning them that an evacuation warning was issued shortly after 10:30 a.m.
Those who may need more time are urged to leave as soon as possible, authorities said.
According to city officials, the hazmat situation was caused by a gas leak that seeped into critical infrastructure.
“An underground contamination source near Monmouth Way between Harbor and Pierpont boulevards has been identified as the cause of a hazardous materials incident that occurred in the Pierpont neighborhood on Sept. 19,” the emergency alert webpage said. “A gasoline substance was found to have leaked from a nearby property into the sewer line. The property owner is investigating and isolating the exact cause and location of the leak.”
Local water crews are continuing to repair a 300-foot section of the sewer line impacted by the leak, and road closures remain in effect at Monmouth Way and the southbound 101 Freeway exit.
First responders were on scene in Pierpont as of 10:30 a.m.
Repairs are anticipated to be completed by Monday, officials stated.
This hazmat incident began two days after a hazardous spill was reported in the operating room of a hospital in nearby Camarillo and five days after authorities investigated a hazmat situation at a Ventura grocery store in which an “irritant” was released, police said.
Jurors deliberating the fate of the man accused of starting the Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in California’s history, failed to reach a verdict Thursday afternoon, telling the judge they were deadlocked.
A spokesperson from the United States Attorney’s Office told KTLA that jurors will continue to deliberate until they reach a verdict or give up.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, a former Uber driver and one-time Pacific Palisades resident, is accused of starting the Lachman Fire on New Year’s Eve. The fire continued to smolder underground for about a week, even after Los Angeles firefighters believed it had been extinguished.
Flames reignited on Jan. 7, erupting into the deadly Palisades Fire that killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes in the upscale community, authorities said.
-
A courtroom sketch of Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, during his initial court appearance on Oct. 23, 2025. (Bill Robles) -
The U.S. Dept. of Justice booking photo of Jonathan Rinderknecht over the Palisades Fire devastation in Malibu, California in January 2025 (AP).
Prosecutors argued that Rinderknecht deliberately set the fire, claiming he had grown increasingly resentful of wealthy residents and viewed Pacific Palisades as a symbol of that frustration.
“Their case, though circumstantial, is strong,” KTLA legal analyst Alison Triessl said. “The defense is relying on, can they (prosecutors) show beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Rinderknecht actually started this fire and it wasn’t the result of fireworks or some intervening cause.”
The defense argued there is no direct physical evidence tying Rinderknecht to the fire and said the prosecution’s case relies entirely on circumstantial evidence. Rinderknecht did not testify during the trial.
Defense attorney Steve Haney spoke outside the courthouse Wednesday about why he believes it will be difficult for prosecutors to prove how the fire started.
“The lack of scene preservation. The fact that they got there after a lot of the evidence was missing. Not a lot of direct evidence. This is a circumstantial case, which is always difficult as a prosecutor to prove,” Haney said.
Rinderknecht, who was arrested and indicted last October, faces up to 45 years in prison if found guilty of three arson counts, including destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and timber set afire.
Tony Kurzweil contributed to this report
Los Angeles, Ca
Boyle Heights warehouse cleanup begins as crews face 85 million pounds of spoiled food
Cleanup efforts are underway Thursday at the Boyle Heights cold-storage warehouse that burned for eight days after firefighters officially declared the massive blaze knocked down Wednesday evening. Los Angeles Fire Department crews remain at the Lineage warehouse near Union Pacific Avenue and South La Puente Street as they transition into the overhaul phase, searching for […]
A hospital needs help identifying a male patient who was found injured and unconscious in downtown Los Angeles.
The man is believed to be in his 30s, according to the Los Angeles General Medical Center.
He was found injured on the ground on Omar Street and has been hospitalized since June 22.
He stands 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 176 pounds. He has brown eyes, dark brown hair and tattoos across his upper body.
He did not have any personal belongings to help staff identify him or contact loved ones. Workers did not disclose the nature of his injuries.
Anyone who recognizes the man is asked to call clinical social worker Cesar Robles at 323-409-6885.
The public can also call the L.A. General Medical Center’s Department of Social Work at 323-409-5253 or, after hours from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., call 323-409-6883. On weekends, call 323-409-5254.
-
News5 minutes ago
The Maine Town That Actually Wants a Data Center
-
Lifestyle38 minutes ago‘The Bear’ is back in the kitchen
-
Technology50 minutes agoAndroid 17’s new foldable gaming mode could make flippy phones more fun
-
World53 minutes agoShark attack survivor wakes from 10-day coma and shares first words with family at her hospital bedside
-
Politics58 minutes agoTrump administration pledges $150M in aid, deploys Navy warships after deadly Venezuela earthquakes
-
Sports1 hour agoSecond Lady Usha Vance joins celebrity-filled crowd for Team USA’s group-stage finale in LA
-
Technology1 hour agoDebt collection letter for debt you don’t owe? What to do now
-
Business1 hour agoNewsom blesses Uber ballot measure truce — but fight over car crash lawsuits continues
