Thawing pipes setting off sprinkler systems, causing ‘havoc’ among fire departments

The freeze was bad enough.

Now, thawing water pipes have been setting off sprinkler systems and fire alarms, flooding some businesses and homes and keeping area fire departments busy.

It seems like all weve been answering lately are water alarms, Knoxville Fire Dept. Capt. D.J. Corcoran said on Wednesday. We have received close to 30 calls of businesses fire alarms activated, as well as residential calls of water lines freezing and bursting. Nonemergency calls are directed to KUB, he said.

KFD scanner traffic on Wednesday referred to several businesses, including the Hampton Inn on Strawberry Plains Pike, the Tennessee Theatre in downtown Knoxville, and the H.T. Hackney Co. on Rutledge Pike.

Some residences are reporting the same problem, Corcoran said. We expect to have more calls (Thursday).

Water lines that feed sprinkler systems can freeze overnight, and the resulting expansion of water can cause a crack in the pipeline. As pipes begin to thaw out, water escapes through the cracks.

Then the water movement sets off the alarm and the sprinkler system, Corcoran said. Its really been causing us havoc.

The Tennessee Theatre did not sustain any significant damage, and the Wednesday night performance of Shen Yun was scheduled to go on, theater manager Tom Bugg said.

A pipe connected to the sprinkler system at the Knox County Health Departments Teague Clinic, 405 Dante Road, burst Wednesday because of extremely low temperatures, said Katharine Killen, community relations director. The clinic will be closed Thursday and Friday for repairs. Clinic staff will contact patients to reschedule appointments, she said.

On Tuesday, the East Tennessee Technologys Access Center had a break in its sprinkler system. Officials are asking people to wait until next week to bring donations of computers and durable medical equipment that were requested earlier for its clients with disabilities. Anyone with an emergency need for durable medical equipment can call 865-475-4421 and leave a name and phone number.

See the original post here:
Thawing pipes setting off sprinkler systems, causing 'havoc' among fire departments