LOWELL — A serious water essential burst simply earlier than 3:30 p.m. Monday, spewing hundreds of gallons of water into a number of neighborhood streets in The Acre, forcing the evacuation of a whole bunch of residents.
“We received a report of a water main break in the area of Father Morissette Boulevard by Suffolk Street,” mentioned Lowell Police Department Deputy Superintendent Mark LeBlanc. “Responding officers arrived on scene to find an active and substantial flow of water in the area to include parts of Father Morissette Boulevard, Moody and Cabot streets. Officers secured the area, and worked with the Lowell Fire Department in evacuating affected residents.”
Sources within the Lowell Regional Water Utility, who didn’t wish to be named, mentioned the break occurred at a gate valve on a water essential. A big sinkhole emerged from the receding waters as soon as the water essential was capped, at which level residential operations had been began.
Deputy Fire Chief Bob Destrempe mentioned firefighters had been compelled to evacuate residents of 4 single-family properties situated on Race Street as a consequence of flooded basements.
Even extra demanding was the evacuation of the 192-unit City View Towers, run by the Lowell Housing Authority, which is situated at 657 Merrimack St. The constructing is dwelling to senior residents and people who find themselves disabled.
According to Destrempe, the water entered the basement, inflicting points with the constructing’s electrical system.
“All their transformers are all down in the basement, and it was getting hairy as the water was coming up,” Destrempe mentioned. “Some of the electrical was starting to smoke a little and there was a transformer that blew and it was pushing smoke into the building.”
National Grid was known as to the scene, the ability was shut off, and the choice was made to evacuate the constructing.
Destrempe mentioned firefighter crews went to every flooring to assist all of the residents, which included those that had been unable to stroll themselves out of the eight-story construction.
“Extensive manpower was needed for this operation,” Destrempe mentioned. “Everybody got out safe. Nobody got hurt. Everybody has been calm and it’s been very orderly.”
With some belongings in hand, Guy Quinn, 72, who has lived at City View Towers for about six years, stood outdoors the constructing shortly earlier than 8 p.m. According to Quinn, he was ready for some members of the family to choose him up.
“I certainly wasn’t expecting it,” Quinn mentioned. “I thought they would fix it, but I guess they couldn’t do that. They want to make sure everything is right.”
Curtis Chanthaboun, of Lowell, mentioned he noticed the gushing water entice automobiles and lap the entrance porches of a number of properties with knee-deep water.
“Houses and cars are surrounded by water,” Chanthaboun mentioned. “The Fire Department did a water boat rescue to some of the houses, and one family got out.”
Priscilla Gonzalez, who lives in an condominium advanced off Race Street, mentioned she was involved in regards to the situation of her automobile that was sitting within the advanced’s now flooded car parking zone. The water reached practically the highest of the automobile’s tires.
“I wasn’t able to move it,” Gonzalez mentioned about her automobile. “The water was already past my knee and the water was so cold.”
The Lowell Water Utility posted a “Water Main Break Alert” on the continued state of affairs.
“There is a large water main break in the downtown area, which is affecting many areas within the city,” learn the assertion. “Unfortunately, while this emergency repair is being addressed, you may experience discolored water or low pressure.”
The Lowell Police Department issued a site visitors advisory for motorists to hunt alternate routes and to count on delays.
The Ayotte Garage, at 11 Post Office Square, will likely be open at no cost parking for residents within the affected space.
The Lowell Senior Center at 276 Broadway St., and the Mercier Center at 21 Salem St., had been opened for space residents affected by the water essential break, and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services had been helping.
Once the restore has been made, the utility suggested that the water stress will return to regular. Brown or discolored water will be cleared by working the chilly water faucets for about 10 minutes.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”