Burst water pipes keep crews busy as Calgary thaws from deep freeze

Emergency crews have been kept busy over the past 24 hours responding more than 100 calls related to burst water pipes in the wake of the extended deep freeze.

Water expands when it freezes, and as temperatures warm, water is released from pipes that split while they were frozen.

Temperatures in the Calgary area have climbed dramatically since early Jan. 1, rising from 30 C early Monday to a high of 1 C later that day.

"It's something we see regularly when we have an extended period of extreme cold with sudden warming," said Calgary Fire Department spokesperson Carol Henke.

The fire department responded to 370 calls between Monday and Tuesday mornings, and Henke said about one-third of those were water related.

The Phil & Sebastian coffee RoastersLocationon Eighth Avenue downtown was one of several places affected by burst pipes as the temperatures climbed.

The business was closed Monday morning as staff clean up the water from the floors and use air movers to dry out the shop.

An entire apartment building in Bankview alsohad to be evacuated Mondaynight after a sprinkler pipe burst.

In Airdrie, the municipal policing building is closed to the public because of a water main break. RCMPoperations are not affected, but the front counter is closed and members of the public are asked to call403-945-RCMP (7267) for non-emergencies and 911 for emergencies.

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