The Philadelphia Fire Department received a call around 6:42 a.m. of a 48-inch transmission water main break at the intersection of 56th Street and Springfield Avenue.
“It’s one of the largest mains that the City of Philadelphia has. So we’re talking hundreds, thousands of gallons of water,” Philadelphia Fire Deputy Chief Kamau Bright said.
Philadelphia Fire Department Update:
Bright said as firefighters arrived on the scene, they rescued one resident from a basement apartment of a corner property.
“In total, five residents were removed and sheltered, and three properties were affected immediately,” Bright said.
SEPTA buses were brought in to provide shelter to those who needed to evacuate their homes due to the floodwaters.
All other residents in the area were able to remain and shelter in their homes.
Action News Update on Water Main Break:
The view from Chopper 6 showed the floodwater trapping parked vehicles on the block.
Chopper 6 Video:
The Philadelphia Water Department began to turn off some of the water valves before 8 a.m. Their crews continued to work to completely shut down the main.
The water flooded basements of homes. Bright said when water gets into basements that could create issues with gas service so Philadelphia Gas Works crews responded to the neighborhood, as well.
“PGW is on scene and they are shutting down gas service to the affected properties,” Bright said.
Crews Work to Make Repairs:
Resident Rick Burns, who has lived on the block for six years, was on his way to check his basement.
“I’ve never seen that much water on the block since I’ve been here,” Burns told Action News.
Corey Davis Reports from the Scene:
Fire officials said they were not allowing people to walk through areas or retrieve their vehicles where the roadway became buckled or damaged from the floodwaters until the Department of Licenses and Inspections could determine the safety of the block.
Some drivers tried to make their way through the high water, but with below-freezing temperatures, the conditions were becoming slippery.
Many residents watched the floodwaters pass by from their porches.
Bright explained because this was a transmission main and not a distribution main, this break did not affect neighbors’ home water supply. Transmission mains are used to carry water to different parts of the city.
The School District of Philadelphia does say that a total of 16 schools switched to virtual learning and instruction due to no running water in their buildings in :
Penrose School
Little School House
Henry C. Lea School
Tilden Middle School
John Bartram High School
Motivation High School
Add B. Anderson School
William L. Sayre High School
Andrew Hamilton School
Avery D. Harrington School
John M. Patterson School
William C. Longstreth School
Thomas G. Morton School
Joseph W. Catharine School and Catharine Annex
Mitchell Elementary School
William C. Bryant School
Parents/guardians were being asked to pick up any students who may have arrived at schools before the decision to close the buildings was announced. Staff were on hand to stay with students until they were picked up. Schools will communicate directly with families regarding steps for virtual instruction.
Independence Charter School West, which is located at the 5600 block of Chester Avenue, also announced classes would switch to virtual learning for the day.
“Good morning ICS West Parents and Families, we’re going to close the school today and have remote classes, due to extensive flooding in the neighborhood around the school that has just been reported to us,” a notice on the school’s website reads.
More Video From Chopper 6:
Due to streets being blocked around the water main break, drivers are being told to seek alternative routes and expect delays.
Copyright © 2022 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.