CFD increases staffing for spike in calls due to frozen, busted pipes

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte Fire Department officials said they are seeing a major spike in calls for frozen pipes and busted sprinkler systems in the area.

[Sub-freezing temperatures lead to water main breaks across Charlotte area]

Since the temperatures have dropped to dangerous lows, Charlotte Fire Capt. Dennis Gist said crews have been responding to more businesses and apartment building across the city.

“A lot of the calls are coming in as fire alarm sounding. Once we get there, we realize there has been a break in one of the sprinkler pipes,” Gist said.

The fire department has increased staffing in the call center and added firefighters to work trucks that are usually on reserve.

“They’re helping take the call load off so that basically citizens won’t be impacted at all,” Gist said.

Jessica Blackburn was working at the Smelly Cat Café in NoDa when she saw water spewing from the empty building next door, so she called 911.

Blackburn said the Charlotte Fire Department responded in minutes.

"There was water just gushing everywhere,” Blackburn said. "This lady was trying to cut the water off and it was just a downpour from the ceiling."

Gist said freezing temperatures are to blame.

Charlotte Fire is responding to a lot of businesses and apartment buildings with busted sprinkler systems or frozen pipes.

"If you have access to cutting off the main water supply to the house possibly in your garage, do that prior to us getting there because it could possibly save your life, as far as damage,” Gist said.

One lane of Sharon Amity Road was blocked in both directions because of a crash early Friday morning that was caused by ice on the road following a water main break.

Police said a car slid on ice and crashed into a brick wall just east of Randolph Road.

That crash happened just a few blocks away from another water main break near Randolph Road and Greenwich Road in the Cotswold neighborhood.

The inbound lanes of Randolph Road were blocked while crews worked to fix the water line, but reopened around 11:30 p.m.

The Harris Teeter was without water for hours, but during the time without water, deli meats, subs, pizza and more were out of commission. The nearby Smashburger also had to close Friday because of the lack of water.

People who live and work nearby told Channel 9 that the broken water pipe made Cotswold feel very different.

“This is very unusual,” Michael Crittenden, a local, said. “I'm looking at the Chick-fil-A and the line isn't wrapped up in the road. At least they are letting us know.”

Shortly before 8 a.m., another water main break was reported along Davidson Street at 12th Street, near the railroad tracks.

Water had covered the road, turning to slush and in some spots, ice, making driving conditions difficult.

Frozen and broken water mains around the Queen City have been causing all kinds of problems for drivers this week.

In Elizabeth, water was streaming down Charlottetown Street near Central Piedmont Community College from a water main break around 2 p.m. Friday.

Channel 9 cameras captured water gushing out of North Caldwell Street in uptown. Charlotte water crews said the inbound lanes of North Caldwell will have to close for the next couple hours while they make the repairs.

On Thursday morning, crews worked to fix a major break on Randolph Road at Billingsley Road. Hundreds of people were without water for several hours, including teachers and students at Billingsville Elementary School.

N

earby residents told Channel 9 they were frustrated.

"I'm heading to work now and I haven't brushed my teeth,” Casey Greener, a resident, said. “I was hoping to hopefully have water there so I could get it done but it's pretty frustrating."

Crews said it could be the age or type of pipe, but every time there's cold weather they anticipate having to respond to a lot of calls.

“Cold weather is definitely a contributing factor,” Cam Coley, with Charlotte Water, said. “We see more, or an increase of water main breaks, when we are in the teens consistently like we've had this week."

There has been a surge in water main breaks in Charlotte over the past few weeks. When water temperatures drop below 40 degrees, it causes stress on pipes, which can lead to cracking and even bursting.

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