Problems that the Bridgeport Fire Department had to deal with as the result of the weather last week continued well past Thursday and into Friday. The day after the city’s staff responded to a trio of calls, including two that involved busted pipes, they dealt with another one last Friday.

 

According to Bridgeport Fire Department Chief Phil Hart, the staff was dispatched at 10:16 p.m. to the Bridgeport Health Care Center just off of U.S. Route 50 East on Maplewood Drive in Bridgeport. The call came in as a fire alarm investigation.

 

“Upon arrival of the fire department, they found an active fire alarm and w aster flow from a sprinkler pipe, which appeared to have frozen and cracked,” said Hart. “The sprinkler system was quickly shut down to stop the flow of water.”

 

While the action of the Bridgeport Fire Department was indeed fast, there was some damage as a result of the water. Hart said 21 residents were moved to an unaffected area of the facility. He said a total of 14 rooms were impacted as a result of the pipe that froze and then broke.

 

“Fire Department personnel and staff controlled the water from entering rooms not affected upon arrival by blocking the flow of water from entering under the doorways,” said Hart. “As a result, water was contained to the hallway.”

 

Hart said the city’s fire crew worked with the staff to do an “extensive cleanup” of the rooms and areas impacted. He said six of the rooms initially affected were able to be used, but he said eight of the others could not be used that evening.

 

“There were no injuries and no residences had to be relocated to any other off-site location,” said Hart.

 

The incident came on the heels of two similar calls Thursday. Bridgeport’s TGI Fridays location at White Oaks had a pipe freeze that led to the business closing and reopening Friday. Meadowview Manor, which is situated on Crestview Terrace, also had a pipe freeze that led to water damage. The department also dealt with a call for a fire that turned out to be a chimney issue that was addressed on a residential structure.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows water also pouring outside the buiding upon arrival by the Bridgeport Fire Department. Second photo isn't of a shiny floor, but rather light reflecting off the water gathered in the hallway. Below, room damage is shown as a result of the water line break.