PORTSMOUTH — An unknown number of residents were displaced and a juice bar was closed Sunday when frigid weather caused a pipe to burst on the fourth floor of a Hanover Street building and caused flooding throughout, said Fire Chief Steve Achilles.
Firefighters were notified about the burst pipe on Jan. 7 at 2:30 p.m. when they responded to 55 Hanover St., a four-story building with The Juicery at street level. City assessing records note that the building was constructed in 1989 and is comprised of condominium units.
Achilles said responding firefighters discovered a pipe in the ceiling of the top floor had burst and caused flooding on all of the floors below. He said firefighters secured the water supply and put tarps over items inside apartment units and The Juicery to help protect them from water damage.
The fire chief said residents were evacuated and displaced until further notice, but he did not know how many were affected. The fire chief said The Juicery is also closed until further notice and officials from the Health Department are scheduled to inspect the property Monday, "to determine when occupants can be let back into the building."
A voicemail service for The Juicery was not accepting messages Monday and Health Department officials could not be reached for comment.
Achilles said patrol officers assisted with traffic control during the flooding incident, as well as checking the building overnight.
According to the fire chief, the cold weather also caused a sprinkler head to break and leak in an office at the Hilton Garden Inn on Friday morning. On Friday evening, he said, a pipe broke inside the AAA office, at 599 Lafayette Road, where firefighters saw water coming out of the building. He said three office units there were affected, the property manager was notified and firefighters turned off the water supply.
On Saturday, Achilles said, a pipe burst at the Bank of America, at 848 Islington St., where firefighters could see water in the building. Because it is a bank, he said, firefighters did not force entry and the property manager was notified.
On Monday morning, firefighters were called to 100 Market Street for a leaking sprinkling head, the system was shut off and they're seeking repairs, the fire chief said.
"We think as things start to defrost, these things are going to happen," said the fire chief. After a stretch of about 10 days of frigid weather, temperatures above freezing are expected this week.
Achilles advised anyone who sees water damage or burst pipes to turn off the water supply and call 911.