Burst Pipe Closes Brentwood Court

A leak in a water pipe canceled afternoon proceedings at Rockingham Superior Court yesterday, but court will be open for business as usual this morning.

The courthouse, which also houses Brentwood Family Division, Rockingham Probate, Exeter District Court and the Registry of Deeds, was evacuated and closed for the day after a pipe broke about 12:15 p.m., Brentwood Fire Deputy Joseph Bird said.

The water came from the third floor of the building, in an area that includes prisoner holding cells and offices for judges, Bird said.

"Being on the third floor, it soaked everything between there and the bottom," Bird said.

Judicial branch spokeswoman Laura Kiernan said the pipe was damaged during maintenance.

"During a routine maintenance call, a fitting broke on a pipe in the prisoner area of the courthouse," she said.

While some offices and hallways were flooded, the damage was largely contained to an area not used by the public, Bird said.

"It was probably in one of the better places to have it happen," he said.

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