Crime & Safety
Firefighters Respond To Burst Pipes In Businesses And Residences
Crews across New Hampshire responded to thousands of calls. A daycare in Merrimack was one of many businesses affected.
MERRIMACK, NH — Broken water pipes in buildings across New Hampshire after a record-breaking cold snap kept firefighters with their hands full on Sunday.
Thousands of calls came into dispatchers reporting broken water pipes and sprinkler heads. As a result of the broken pipes, several basements, and businesses were flooded.
Merrimack firefighters responded to more than a dozen water-related calls, including one at Kindercare Daycare on Continental Boulevard. Crews arrived to find water flowing inside the building, and the ceiling collapsed in part of the building. Merrimack Fire requested additional apparatus and personnel respond to assist in shutting down utilities and beginning to remove water from inside the building.
Find out what's happening in Merrimackfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Plumbers, HVAC companies, electricians, fire protection companies, and clean-up companies were all responding to incidents as quickly as possible. People with water issues took to social media and neighborhood groups, searching for service companies to respond to emergencies.
One issue that added to the number of broken pipes is that many businesses turn the heat down on the weekend when the buildings are not occupied, and with the subzero temperatures, pipes froze. Many homeowners were away for the weekend and returned to find burst pipes.
Find out what's happening in Merrimackfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Fire departments across the state also experienced accessing business due to not having proper keys normally supplied by the building owners. Many businesses also do not have current emergency contact information with local fire and police departments, further delaying getting the proper people to the scene.
Business and building owners should take the time to make sure the most current keys to access the buildings are available to their local fire departments. Having the current emergency contact information is also essential.
Several local businesses were heavily damaged, and it is recommended that you contact the businesses directly to find out the status of their being able to open.
©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news
