A Breckenridge resort evacuated about 100 people early this morning when a sprinkler stand pipe split open, according to Red, White and Blue Fire Rescue officials.
At about 5:30 a.m., the pipe, which was connected to the main water line, burst in the eighth-floor stairwell in Building 2 of Beaver Run Resort, causing 10,000 gallons of water to swamp the building, said Kim Scott, a fire spokeswoman.
The water poured down the hallways, into the rooms and through the floors at about 1,500 gallons of water per minute, for about 7 minutes. All 50 rooms were evacuated and the fire rescue shut off the water by 5:45 a.m.
Resort officials said there is no structural damage to the building, although some rooms will take days to recover.
“It’s just water damage and wet feet,” said Bob Barto, assistant general manager of Beaver Run, adding that all guests were taken care of by 11 a.m.
The fire rescue said this kind of incident is common, although most are confined to a single room or two and few have significant damage like Beaven Run.
“It was -15 degrees the night before,” said Scott. “And when there is a loss of heat to the stairwell, the water freezes and expands and breaks the pipe.”
Scott said there are no reported injuries.
“Safety is our main concern,” she said. “Nobody was hurt and nobody was out in the cold.”
Sally S. Ho: 303-954-1638 or sho@denverpost.com
