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Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Apartment Complex Shuts Down Because of Mold

Dozens of people at a Hopewell apartment complex are furious after they received notices they have to move out.

Hopewell Code Enforcement says living conditions are unsafe at the Prince George Terrace apartments, so it's telling people they need to move by Wednesday.

Tiffany Howard says her health has gotten worse and blames the basement apartments which have sitting water, sewage, and some say even mold inside. She lives right above a condemned unit and says the stench inside has crept up through her apartment creating health problems for her.

"The smell is horrible as soon as you walk through the door," said Howard. "I got asthma and bronchitis since I moved here, so it's bad."

Other neighbors like Leona Bland have the same problem. Her apartment has signs of water damage. She even says the water tastes so bad, she has to drink bottled water. Code enforcement says these conditions are not livable, but many people here say they have nowhere to go.

" I felt like I was going to die -- like I was homeless," said Bland. "I'm homeless. I don't have anywhere to go."

Neighbors say they complained to the property manager, but the only advice they've received is to bleach down the walls. Bland says for the past several years the property conditions have gotten worse.

"It's been a bad six or eight years, because people don't want to fix anything," said Bland. 'Now we are getting put out. The owners are hiding. We don't know want to do."

This isn't the first time police say property owner Steven Whitlow has violated city code. He has a record dating back to 2007. Documents from the Colonial Heights Police Department show he was cited for serious maintenance problems at Colonial Court Apartments - the same place where a fire started from a water heater Monday morning. Some violations include not following fire code, improper wiring, and not keeping vacant property secure - unlocked doors and broken windows. In many cases, raw sewage was exposed through bad piping. We saw many of the same scenarios at Prince George Terrace Apartments.

"We need somebody to come to our aid and give us a place to live and vouchers," Bland added.

Burst Pipe Floods Home

A DREAM holiday turned into a nightmare when a Chatteris woman returned home to find her house flooded.

Sarah Huebler was horrified to discover water pouring through her Clare Street home after she came back from Goa, where she had been holidaying with partner Andy Burley, from Ramsey.

A further leak later sprang up outside the house and was reported in last week’s Citizen, as it had been running for almost three weeks. Sarah and Andy came forward to tell their story after seeing the article.

The leak was discovered after the couple had spent a mammoth nine-and-a-half hours making their way from Heathrow Airport in the snowy conditions that greeted them as they arrived home on February 4.

Andy said: “We had to sleep on the motorway because conditions were so bad. Then we got to Sarah’s house and found a pipe had burst in the loft. It was a mains pipe, so the water kept going. The only things salvageable from the house were a table and four chairs. Everything else was ruined.”

Sarah’s parents had been to the house to turn on the heating just before they were due to land and things had been fine. It’s thought the pipe burst not long after they left, due to the freezing conditions.

Senior Citizens Return Home After Apartment Flooded

Senior citizens have returned to their apartment homes after a water pipe burst and flooded portions of their building.

Fire and rescue crews on Monday night were called to the River Run Senior Apartments on 13900 Ridgewood Drive, near the intersection of Prince William Parkway and Minnieville Road in Woodbridge, and found a broken hot water pipe flooding apartments. The pipe was located on the second floor and its water caused damage to multiple units on the first and second floods, said Prince William fire and rescue spokeswoman Kim Hylander.

No injuries were reported.

One-Alarm Fire Damages Garage in Newark

A one-alarm fire damaged the garage of a residence Wednesday afternoon, an Alameda County fire official said.

No injuries were reported, Battalion Chief Kris Kerstetter said.

About 1 p.m., 24 firefighters responded to reports of a blaze at a residence in the 38000 block of Iris Court, near Robertson Avenue, Kerstetter said.

They saw smoke billowing from the home and cut open the front of the garage to attack the flames, fire officials said.

Firefighters used four three engines, two truck and a heavy-rescue vehicle to contain the blaze to the garage and they extinguished it within 10 minutes, Kerstetter said.

The fire did about $5,000 in damage to the garage, he said.

Investigators have determined that the blaze started from oily rags that spontaneously combusted after being left in the garage, fire officials said.

fire damage long island

2/29/12 Lindenhurst Weather Forecast

Tonight: Rain. Low around 37. Breezy, with a east wind between 16 and 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday: A chance of rain, mainly before 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 43. Northeast wind between 6 and 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. North wind around 9 mph.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 46. North wind 5 to 9 mph becoming south.

Friday Night: Rain likely, mainly after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 40. South wind between 11 and 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Saturday: Showers likely. Cloudy and breezy, with a high near 55. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 48.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 28.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 44.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 34.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Burst Pipe Floods Apartment Building

Crews were cleaning up on Tuesday after some major flooding at a 15-story apartment building in a Pasadena.

The fire department was called to the 200 block of Cordova Street at about 11 p.m. Monday after a pipe burst. Water had poured through the top floor and out of the 14th story ceiling, causing it to collapse.

No one was injured in the incident.

It was unclear if any residents were displaced, and authorities have not yet determined what caused the pipe to burst.

Burst Pipe Floods Fitness Center

A GYM owner has thanked her members for their support following a huge flood on Christmas Day.

Activzone in Guildford was almost destroyed when water from a burst pipe ruined the equipment, walls, flooring and electrics.

Sonja Botha, who has owned the facility in Stoke Road since 2007, praised the 700 members for retaining their memberships during extensive refurbishment work which meant the gym was closed for a month.

She said: “I really want to say to my members that I am really thankful to them. Not one of them cancelled their membership. They stood by me and were really nice about it.”

She opened a temporary gym in a room in Guildford College but it could only house a few pieces of equipment.

Miss Botha said it was bad luck that the pipe burst on one of only two days a year that the gym is closed. Police called her at 2am on Boxing Day to tell her about the accident.

“Nobody was there so we couldn’t stop the water,” she said. “I was in Germany so I got in the car and drove through the night to get to the gym.

“When I turned up, it was literally like a swimming pool. The whole place was flooded. It really was a mess and telephone cables and parts of the equipment had corroded.”

A caretaker was able to turn off the water but Miss Botha said the flood was by then about 6cm deep.

It covered the entire floor but the fire brigade told the gym that it could not pump water out if it was less than one foot deep.

$200,000 Fire Damage Holds 12 Year Old Boy Responsible

Police in southwest suburban Plainfield said a pre-teen arsonist is responsible for a fire-starting spree in his neighborhood that ended up causing $200,000 damage.

Plainfield police Chief John Konopek said the 12-year-old admitted to setting ablaze five vehicles in the 16000 block of Hazelwood Drive between Dec. 25 and Jan. 7, including a Christmas Day fire that spread to the home of Lisa Morris and her family.

Morris said Tuesday she was making breakfast that morning when her children smelled smoke and accused her of burning the food.

“It was the garage that was burning,” she said.

A Ford Explorer and a Nissan Pathfinder parked inside were destroyed as the fire spread to the house. Morris’ family and pets were able to escape without injury, but were unable to live in their home until last week.

Another car fire was started on New Year’s day, and a Jan. 7 fire spread to a townhome that ended up having to be gutted, authorities said.

Konopek said an officer doing undercover surveillance in the area spotted the boy burglarizing an unlocked car around 7 a.m. Monday and arrested him.

As he was being interviewed about the break-in he admitted to setting all the fires, Konopek said.

Konopek said they boy had been identified early in the investigation as a possible witness to one of the fires.

“And some of the information he provided didn’t match up,” Konopek said.

The boy targeted unlocked cars at random, using paper and cloth he found inside to start the fires, authorities said.

“He wanted to see how big he could get the fires to grow,” Konopek said, adding the boy showed remorse for the crimes on Monday.

“He didn’t want for anyone to get hurt and gave no indications he thought the vehicle fires would spread to the buildings,” he said.

The boy reportedly has been in foster care at a home on the block for less than a year. He was charged with five counts of arson, three counts of burglary to motor vehicles and two counts of vandalism for spray-painting houses on Arbor Creek Drive on Feb. 22.

2/28/12 Lindenhurst Weather Forecast

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. North wind between 3 and 6 mph.

Wednesday: Rain, mainly after 1pm. High near 44. Southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Rain. Low around 39. East wind between 8 and 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday: A chance of rain, mainly before 10am. Cloudy, with a high near 49. North wind between 5 and 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. North wind between 7 and 10 mph.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 45.

Friday Night: A chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday: Showers likely. Cloudy and breezy, with a high near 56. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 47.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 29.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 44.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Pipe Burst Floods Holt High School

Holt High School dodged a bullet recently when a pipe burst cascading water into four classrooms - but the leak was noticed and significant damage was avoided.

Holt Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Johnny Scott said a open air duct in the school’s system was left in a vulnerable state as an arctic blast quickly moved in to the area Feb. 10.

“The cold air caused a pipe to burst, and we had water all over four classrooms by Saturday,” Scott said.

Luckily, the school was being used to host a Science Olympiad tournament on Feb. 11 and the flooding was noticed, he said.

“If we didn’t have that noticed on Saturday, the water would have run all the way until Monday morning,” Scott said. “And that would have done some major damage.”

Fire Damages Duplex

A family of four escaped uninjured Friday when fire broke out inside their Skehan Lane home.

West Gardiner Fire Chief Chris McLaughlin said the mother and four children who share the home where the fire broke out were outside when firefighters arrived. A woman who lives in the other half of the duplex was still inside when firefighters arrived. Crews escorted her from the home.

An investigator from the State Fire Marshal's Office was called to determine the cause of the fire, McLaughlin said. He declined to name the occupants or the building's owner until the investigation is complete. McLaughlin is unsure if the building is insured.

The mother and children—McLaughlin is unsure of the children's ages—are staying with a family member, McLaughlin said.

"There was significant damage to one bedroom where the fire originated," he said. "The contents of that bedroom are a complete loss."

The woman who lives in the other half of the building was allowed to return to her home.

The fire broke out around 8:30 a.m., inside a bedroom in the single-story home at 12 Skehan Lane. Smoke was pouring out the front door when firefighters arrived. Flames were showing inside the bedroom where the fire originated.

McLaughlin said damage was minimized by an early warning provided by the smoke detectors and an aggressive response by firefighters.

Firefighters from Farmingdale, Pittston, Gardiner and Litchfield assisted West Gardiner crews.

"In less than 10 minutes of the first arriving unit we had the fire completely out," McLaughlin said. "The fire department did a great job of containing it to that one room. Most of the contents of the house were salvageable."

2/24/12 Lindenhurst Weather Forecast

Late Afternoon: A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 45. East wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tonight: Rain and possibly a thunderstorm before 11pm, then isolated rain between 11pm and 1am. Low around 35. Breezy, with a northwest wind 6 to 9 mph increasing to between 21 and 24 mph. Winds could gust as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 47. Windy, with a west wind between 25 and 30 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 27. Breezy, with a northwest wind between 16 and 22 mph, with gusts as high as 48 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 42. Northwest wind between 11 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.

Wednesday: A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 49. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Wednesday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday: A chance of rain. Mostly sunny and breezy, with a high near 48. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 36.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 43.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Burst Pipes Flood Bar and Grill

Burst water pipes have shut down Cityside Bar and Grill in Coon Rapids, but only temporarily.

Cityside opened at 133 Coon Rapids Blvd., where Paddy Wagon’s Irish Sports Pub was formerly located, Dec. 1, 2011.

But the morning of Saturday, Jan. 14 before the restaurant opened for the day, six water pipes burst in the loft area flooding the restaurant, including the kitchen area.

“We were open for six week and now we are closed for six weeks,” said Susan Neumann, who owns Cityside Bar and Grill with her sons, Jonathan Lietzau and Benjamin Lietzau.

According to Neumann, the burst water pipes were part of a compressor/refrigeration unit in a storage room in the loft area.

There was a vent from the unit in the roof, which malfunctioned, Neumann said.

The vent was defective, she said.

It took some time for the water from the burst pipes to be pumped out and the restaurant and kitchen areas to dry out, Neumann said.

And the damage from the water means that major renovation work is now taking place, she said.

“We have basically had to start from scratch,” Neumann said.

Mold Causing Health Problems for Couple

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, living with mold in your home can cause everything from mild asthma to shortness of breath and even lung disease.

“The burning of the eyes, the coughing and the headaches, constant headaches,” said Frank Killian on how he thinks mold affected him.

Killen said he and his girlfriend, Deb, dealt with health issues for the past two years because of mold in his apartment.

Apartment management insists they were not aware of a problem and responded to all requests made by Killen.

“The caulking has mold, not the drywall or window,” said Katie Garrity, regional property manager for the North Union Street Apartments and James Management Group.

Garrity also said that aside from that, there is not any mold.

"This is his housekeeping issue,” said Garrity. “It is dirt, not mold.”

Either way, what is a person to do if they suspect they have hazardous mold inside their apartment?

You can call the health department so you know for sure, said Hamilton County administrator Barry McNulty.

"There are no set laws or regulations on mold because there is no way to quantify mold, and we all have different sensitivities,” said McNulty.

McNulty said before you rent an apartment, you need to do a thorough check of the home to see if it has mold. Also, he suggests getting a mold addendum in your lease in case you need to move out due to mold.

That was the case with Killen.

“It got so bad, we couldn't live there,” said Killen.

Fire Damages Auto Shop

A fire damaged a Klamath Falls auto shop late Monday night, and investigators say the fire may have been started intentionally.

Mike Dukes of the Daceco auto shop has been busy today...

"Trying to get this place secured, and get it cleaned up."

The fire was reported just before 11 Monday night. Tom Morehouse of Klamath County Fire District #1 says the fire began in an area at the rear of the building.

"We've got a couple of trailers with what looks like some used tires that is where the main part of the fire was."

Firefighters checked the building thoroughly to make sure the fire didn't spread. Investigators say the fire was human caused... but they can't say if it was accidental, or intentional.

Investigator Scott Rice notes that several arson fires were reported in the same general area late last year.

"We don't know if we have just a happenstance, or if we have a second person that's involved with a lot of these fires - but there is a suspicion around that."

Damage was limited to about 5000 dollars thanks to a quick response... and Mike Dukes is thankful.

"Yes - the fire department did a very good job - I was very proud of them."

There were no injuries reported as a result of the fire.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and the auto shop is still open for business.

2/23/12 Lindenhurst Weather Forecast

Tonight: Rain, mainly after 3am. Low around 39. North wind between 7 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Friday: Rain. High near 46. East wind between 9 and 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Breezy, with a east wind 8 to 11 mph becoming west between 21 and 24 mph. Winds could gust as high as 36 mph.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 45. Breezy, with a west wind between 18 and 25 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. Breezy, with a northwest wind around 21 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 42.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 31.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 48.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36.

Wednesday: A chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday: A chance of rain. Partly sunny and breezy, with a high near 45. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Attorney General's Office Flooded

A Phoenix building that houses the office of the Arizona Attorney General has been evacuated after a water pipe exploded, flooding the second floor of the building.

A spokeswoman for Attorney General Tom Horne says a pipe in a bathroom exploded Tuesday morning, leaving about two inches of water on the floor.

Spokeswoman Amy Rezzonico says it was dangerous to staff and there are concerns about the quality of air inside.

Images provided by Horne's office showed what appeared to be broken ceiling tiles that fell to the floor after water soaked the ceiling.

Rezzonico says no injuries were reported.

Information on the cause of the pipe burst was not immediately available.

Rezzonico says about 200 to 300 people were evacuated. She says staffers can work out of another office.

Burst Ppe Floods Apartment Building in Pasadena

Crews were cleaning up on Tuesday after some major flooding at a 15-story apartment building in a Pasadena.

The fire department was called to the 200 block of Cordova Street at about 11 p.m. Monday after a pipe burst. Water had poured through the top floor and out of the 14th story ceiling, causing it to collapse.

No one was injured in the incident.

It was unclear if any residents were displaced, and authorities have not yet determined what caused the pipe to burst.

Fire Damage One Apartment in Complex

A fire at the Coronado Bay Club Apartments displaced one household early Wednesday and caused about $50,000 in damages, according to the fire department.

A resident who lives below the third-floor unit that burned suffered water damage. Workers scurried about the building in the morning, placing debris in plastic bags and laying out large machines to dissipate the fumes from the blaze.

The fire occured in the “T” building of the sprawling complex, off 1st Street, according to fire Capt. Bill Toon. Residents had to be evacuated, with the help of Coronado police, Toon said, but no one was injured.

The cause of the two-alarm blaze is under investigation, but it appears to be accidental, Toon said. The call for aid came in at 3:06 a.m., and he estimates the fire was under control 30 minutes later.

2/22/12 Lindenhurst Weather Forecast

Tonight: A chance of showers, mainly between 10pm and 5am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 43. South wind between 10 and 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday: Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 55. Breezy, with a west wind between 11 and 20 mph.

Thursday Night: Rain, mainly after 4am. Low around 41. Northwest wind between 3 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Friday: Periods of rain, mainly before 3pm. High near 58. Breezy, with a east wind 16 to 23 mph becoming north. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Friday Night: A chance of showers before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Breezy, with a east wind 18 to 23 mph becoming west. Winds could gust as high as 43 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday: Mostly sunny and breezy, with a high near 45.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear and breezy, with a low around 28.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 42.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 31.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47.

Monday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 46.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31.

Wednesday: A chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 42. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Burst Pipe Floods Mill

FLOOD damage to a mill shopping complex could run into six figures, its has been revealed.

But the owners of Ena Mill, in Atherton, are resolving to reopen to the public in less than 10 days after the flood wiped out the entire ground floor and large areas of the first floor.

The flood is believed to have started between Sunday evening and Monday morning. The ground floor was the most seriously hit, with water as deep as three inches in some places.

Simon Yates, from Ena Mill, said: “It’s devastating. We’re just taking stock of it all at the moment.

Pipe Burst Floods Shop

A water pipe froze and burst in an upstairs apartment and sent water pouring into a newly remodeled Main Street shop Tuesday morning.

A passerby noticed water pouring out of the doorway of the Sagegrass Gallery at 156 Main St. and informed police at about 5:40 a.m., according to reports. Firefighters arrived quickly and gained entry to a vacant apartment above the gallery while the water main was shut off, Fire Chief Dave Rand said.

A pipe near the front window of the apartment, which juts out over the sidewalk, had burst, Chief Rand said, sending water all over the floor of the apartment and down the walls and into the gallery below.

The apartment was heated, Chief Rand said. He suspected that cold air had infiltrated the space around the pipe and caused the freeze. The same pipe froze once before, several years ago, he said.

Gallery owner Sue Stanley moved the business from Bayside Landing to the Main Street location this winter and plans to open again in the spring. She was devastated when she first walked into her shop Tuesday morning, she said.

“We had just got the painting completed. Literally, Friday it was done,” she said. “The biggest concern at this point is how the insurance is going to handle all this.”

Fire Heavily Damages Tattoo Parlor

A tattoo parlor in San Jose was heavily damaged in a fire Monday morning, firefighters said.

The fire was reported at 4:54 a.m. at 1050 Blossom Hill Road, fire Capt. Rob Brown said.

Firefighters arrived on the scene shortly after 5 a.m. and found flames coming out of the windows of the second floor of the commercial building, Brown said.

The second floor of the two-story building is occupied by the tattoo parlor Lucky Star Tattoo, Brown said.

Firefighters called a second alarm right away, but canceled it after they were able to get the fire mostly knocked down by 5:25 a.m.

The fire was under control by 5:34 a.m., Brown said.

The tattoo parlor sustained heavy damage, though firefighters were able to contain most of the damage to the back half of the unit.

The most heavily damaged area was the studio portion of the tattoo parlor, while an office and filing area towards the front of the building was mostly saved, Brown said.

The first floor was undamaged by the fire and sustained some water damage, Brown said.

The building was unoccupied at the time of the fire and no one was injured. A fire investigator was on the scene this morning to determine the cause.

2/20/12 Lindenhurst Weather Forecast

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 30. North wind between 6 and 9 mph becoming calm.

Tuesday: A slight chance of rain after 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 44. Calm wind becoming south between 13 and 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tuesday Night: A chance of rain, mainly before 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. South wind between 11 and 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 54. West wind between 13 and 17 mph.

Wednesday Night: A chance of light rain after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. West wind between 9 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday: A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 54. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Friday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy and breezy, with a low around 37. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday: Mostly sunny and windy, with a high near 44.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear and breezy, with a low around 30.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 43.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 32.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 46.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Two Homes in Richmond Damaged by Separate Fires

A predawn apartment fire Thursday forced occupants of a duplex on the 5300 block of Columbia Avenue to evacuate, the second residential blaze this week in Richmond.

Nobody got hurt. The fire started in the kitchen of one unit, likely a grease fire. Fire trucks arrived about 1:21 a.m. and confined the blaze to the kitchen, Fire Chief Michael Banks said.

The department called the American Red Cross to provide temporary shelter for two women and two children displaced by the blaze. It caused about $55,000 in property damage, officials said.

A fire Tuesday dealt similar damage to a house on the 900 block of 31st Street, where one occupant was treated for minor injury after the 11 a.m. blaze. The fire caused minor damage to a next-door garage. The cause remains under investigation, and residents of the home received help from the Red Cross.

2/16/12 Lindenhurst Weather Forecast

Tonight: Periods of rain, mainly before 3am. Patchy fog before 10pm. Low around 39. South wind between 6 and 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday: A chance of rain or drizzle before 7am, then a chance for drizzle before ending. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 50. West wind between 8 and 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30. Northwest wind between 10 and 14 mph.

Saturday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 48. West wind between 11 and 13 mph.

Saturday Night: A slight chance of rain after 11pm. Cloudy, with a low around 36. Southwest wind 9 to 11 mph becoming northwest. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Sunday: A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 42. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday Night: A chance of rain, mixing with snow after 8pm, then gradually ending. Mostly cloudy and blustery, with a low around 29. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Washington's Birthday: Sunny and breezy, with a high near 42.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 29.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 44.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36.

Wednesday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Rec Building in Brooklyn to Gain New Life

The Brooklyn Board of Selectmen later this month will consider a draft of a request for proposals for use of the former recreation building.

First Selectman Austin Tanner said the board voted last week to move forward with the request to determine if anyone has interest in the building.

The Recreation Department moved out of the Prince Hill Road building in 2008. The building has water damage, collapsed ceilings, mold and damage from termites and rodents. Renovation estimates range from $31,000 to $130,000.

Selectmen voted in September 2008 and in February 2009 to demolish the building, budgeting $10,000 to raze it. But the building is a town asset, so approval from residents is required. The issue was never brought to town meeting.

Since 2008, groups have expressed interest in the building, Tanner said, but none has made a formal presentation to the town.

Selectmen have discussed options for the building, which include renovations by Harvard H. Ellis Technical High School and use of the building by the Last Green Valley and the town’s agricultural commission. Brooklyn resident Paul Archer, of Archer Surveying, has also expressed interest. Archer could not be reached for comment Monday.

Tanner said he spent last month researching the restrictions on the building. By deed, the building can only be used for recreation or conservation. Any other use would require permission from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Tanner said.

Tanner said the request for proposals will be broad and open to anyone interested in purchasing, leasing or renovating the building. But Tanner said some cautionary words for any potential buyer or tenant.

“The town doesn’t want to put money into it,” he said. “So if they wanted to (renovate) it, they’d have to do it themselves.”
Tanner said the board has not set a timeline for sending the request out.
Resident Paula Burns said she does not see a reason to rush to tear down the building, even though the town has been talking about it for years.
“If people are interested and will fix it up, the town should do what it can to help them,” Burns said.

Burst Pipe Floods Hair Salon

The fire brigade were called to a hairdressers today, after a burst pipe in the property above flooded part of the salon.

Harmony Hair and Beauty, on the corner of Shenley Road and Drayton Road, Borehamwood, was flooded after a pipe burst in the boxing club above, and was left without electricity and water.

Siobhan Rosier, who owns the salon, said: “My neighbour phoned me at about 10.30am and told me they could hear water in down the back of the building.

“I came to the salon to check it and the hallway at the back was just full of water but luckily none got into the main part of the salon.

“I just hope the water will stop soon and so I can trade tomorrow. I need the water and power for by business and I can’t afford to be closed tomorrow.

“I’ve got customers relying on me and with it being Valentine’s Day; there will be a lot of ladies disappointed if they don’t open.”

The leak was the result of a broken pipe located in a boxing club above the salon.

The fire service were called to the scene and had to break into the club though the window at the rear of the building because the owner could not be contacted.

The fire service found the leak and stopped the water running, but Mrs Rosier has been told that the dripping will continue for a possible 24 hours.

Inside the boxing club was there was damage to kitchen where the pipes burst, but the club is remaining open while repairs are made.

Burst Pipe Floods Several Shops

FLOOD damage to a mill shopping complex could run into six figures, its has been revealed.

But the owners of Ena Mill, in Atherton, are resolving to reopen to the public in less than 10 days after the flood wiped out the entire ground floor and large areas of the first floor.

The flood is believed to have started between Sunday evening and Monday morning. The ground floor was the most seriously hit, with water as deep as three inches in some places.

Simon Yates, from Ena Mill, said: “It’s devastating. We’re just taking stock of it all at the moment.

“It’s one of those situations that nothing can prepare you for. It couldn’t have come at a worse time, just before half-term — it’s an important trading time for us. We’ve been advertising heavily and forecasting a record week of sales.

“We had already turned away 400 people before lunchtime on Monday.”

He added: “All we can think about is getting everything cleaned up and reopen as soon as possible. Our lives are on hold until we do.”

4-Alarm Fire Damages Home in Lancaster

During a four alarm fire, several people were rescued from a porch roof in Lancaster City.

The fire began about 1:45 a.m. in a rowhome on the 600 block of Vine Street.

Firefighters and police used ladders to rescue the people from a neighbor's porch roof.

At least one person was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

The fire went to four alarms, primarily for manpower.

The cause is still undetermined.

There were concerns about staffing last weekend, when one fire station had to be closed temporarily.

A fire captain on the scene of this fire says staffing was not an issue this morning.

2/15/12 Lindenhurst Weather Forecast

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. West wind around 6 mph becoming calm.

Thursday: Rain likely, mainly after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45. Calm wind becoming south between 6 and 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Periods of rain, mainly before 3am. Low around 40. South wind at 8 mph becoming west. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. Northwest wind between 6 and 13 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 32. Northwest wind around 10 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45.

Saturday Night: A chance of rain after 11pm, mixing with snow after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday: A chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 42. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Sunday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Washington's Birthday: Sunny and breezy, with a high near 40.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 28.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 39.

Tuesday Night: A chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday: A chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 45. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Water Main Break Floods Several Homes in St. Louis

A water main break has left part of a South County neighborhood under water. The main broke around 4 p.m. Thursday and in less than an hour water was running into some homes.

This is on the Affton Mehlville border in this Lemay neighborhood. The water now shut off in the area so crews can try and dig through the mud to get to this main and repair it.

Skyfox flew over the scene and you could see the water just pushing right up from the ground and then running straight downhill to Deibold Court and flooding about a half dozen homes on that

"It was just boiling out of the ground." That`s how Scott Schmidt described the water main break.

"One guys driveway was coming up and rocks were flying out," said Schmidt.

The Missouri American Water Company says its hard to know why the main broke but it was put into place in the 1950`s.

The company was able to shut water off in order to make repairs but not before basements were flooded.

We spoke with one man who had a brand new car in his garage that connects to his basement, that car and his basement were flooded."By the time I went into the basement there was probably 2 feet of water," said one resident.

It wasn`t just his basement that flooded. The connecting garage flooded as well.

"I have a brand new car in their," said the owner. "6,000 miles on it and it`s full of water."

Another witness says it was like a river suddenly appeared in her driveway but there wasn`t any time for sandbags.

"All you could do is watch it," said Sandy Stragliati. "I mean what can you do."

In some homes the water was several feet deep. That's because the water was not shut off for more than an hour.

Some of the families that were flooded say the damage could have been avoided if that water had been shut off quicker.

Attic Fire Causes $5,000 in Damage to Home

An attic fire caused about $5,000 worth of damage to a home on Jones Avenue.

Firefighters were called to the home at 11:08 a.m. Monday after the resident smelled smoke, according to Niceville Fire Chief Tommy Mayville.

When the first crew arrived to the home at 11:11 a.m., the fire was confined to the attic and they were able to extinguish it within about 10 minutes, Mayville said.

An investigation revealed that the electrical fire was started after a nail was accidentally driven through a wire inside a wall, he said.

No one was injured in the fire, but Mayville said there were no working smoke alarms inside the home. He urged all residents to install them in their homes.

“So far we’ve been absolutely lucky,” Mayville said. “If these fires had taken place at night, we probably would have been looking at a loss of life… I can’t encourage folks enough to just get out and get smoke detectors.”

Firefighters recommend having at a smoke alarm installed in every bedroom, the living room and the garage, although they would ideally be located in every room.

“Every fire starts out small,” Mayville said. “And that’s what smoke detectors are for.”

Firefighters from Eglin, East Niceville, North Bay and Valparaiso also responded to the fire.

2/13/12 Lindenhurst Weather Forecast

Tonight: Increasing clouds, with a low around 31. West wind between 6 and 10 mph.

Tuesday: Cloudy, with a high near 45. West wind between 5 and 11 mph.

Tuesday Night: A slight chance of rain and snow. Cloudy, with a low around 35. West wind around 6 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wednesday: A slight chance of rain and snow before 8am, then a slight chance of rain between 8am and noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 50. Calm wind becoming southwest between 4 and 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. Light north wind.

Thursday: A chance of rain, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Rain likely, mainly before midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 39. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday: Partly sunny and breezy, with a high near 49.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 29.

Washington's Birthday: Sunny, with a high near 43.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Mold Damage Has Winston Apartment Residents Worried

Less than one month after a North Valley apartment complex flooded, some residents say their health is now at risk because of growing mold.

The Sierra Apartments located on Winton Way near Myrtle Avenue in Winton suffered major damage after freezing temperatures caused pipes to burst. 27 apartments in the complex had some sort of water damage.

Tyler Trant says his Winton apartment is surrounded by mold: "It's hard to deal with things. I always feeling like I'm going to pass out. Sick."

Trant's main concern is for his two young daughters.

Roberto Perez is also worried for his kids. Take one look behind a tarp inside his two bedroom unit, and you can clearly see why.

Back in January, pipes froze and then burst, causing a dozen ceilings to collapse. Perez says he and his family left for several days until crews declared his unit safe.

After returning to find mold covering half of this room, this what Perez claims he was told: "The manager said that he can't do anything. That he doesn't know who's going to fix it."

Despite how bad the mold problem in this apartment is, the family who lives here says they can't afford to leave. In fact, the four of them are sharing one bedroom, and they'll have to do that until the problem gets fixed.

The manager was not on-site Wednesday to answer our questions. But, we did speak to a representative from the complex's management company out of state. By phone, he expressed concern, telling Action News they were not aware of the ongoing mold issue. He also promised to send a contractor out to the complex right away, to ensure every resident is living in a safe environment.

Fire Heavily Damages Two Homes in Salt Lake

Investigators are looking into the cause of a fire in Salt Lake that heavily damaged two homes Wednesday evening.

The blaze started at around 6:30 p.m. on Likini Street.

When fire crews arrived, a three-bedroom home was already burning.

The flames also damaged the house next door.
Fire officials believe as many as five residents lived in each house with multiple rooms being rented to tenants.

Nearby residents say they heard screams and saw one man trying to run back into the burning house.

"We see one house burning and thinking, 'Oh, messed up,'" said Salt Lake resident Jessteen Garin. "Everyone yelling, 'Get out of the house, get out of the house!'"

"I heard a bunch of popping from the back of the house, then a lot of people yelling to get out of the house," said Salt Lake resident Victor Vermudez.

Police officers had to handcuff and detain the owner of the house who tried to go back inside the home as it went up in flames.

Fire officials say no one was injured but a cat died in the fire.

Damage is estimated at more than $500,000 for both homes.

2/9/12 Lindenhurst Weather Forecast

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 29. West wind between 3 and 8 mph.

Friday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 46. West wind between 6 and 14 mph.

Friday Night: Rain and snow likely before 4am, then snow. Low around 35. Southwest wind between 5 and 8 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Saturday: Rain and snow before 4pm, then a slight chance of snow. High near 40. North wind between 6 and 13 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Saturday Night: A slight chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21. North wind between 15 and 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Sunday: A slight chance of snow showers after noon. Partly sunny and breezy, with a high near 33. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy and breezy, with a low around 21.

Monday: Mostly sunny and breezy, with a high near 37.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 47.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 48.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Ceiling Collapses After Pipe Bursts

A BEDROOM ceiling collapsed after a frozen water pipe burst today, devastating a High Wycombe house.

Firefighters were called Hatters Lane today at about 1.15pm after the resident returned to discover her home was flooded.

An inch of water covered the entire ground floor and the remaining ceilings upstairs which had not collapsed were straining under the pressure.

It appears to have been caused by a pipe in the loft and the house was unoccupied when it happened.

Burst Pipe Floods Surgery; Will Remain Open

Emergency electricity and lighting has been installed at Woodlands Park Surgery on Sunday after a mains water pipe burst.

Practice manager Diane Parrott said no medical records were damaged in the flooding and the Woodlands Park Road surgery in Cox Green is still open for business.

She said: "A neighbour kindly called the out of hours number to let us know the pipe had burst.

"By the time we arrived at the surgery there was already a waterfall coming from the ceiling and down the stairs.

"We're still open but some services are not being offered at this point due to limited electricity."

She added work is in progress to return the surgery back to normal as soon as possible.

Fire Causes $250,000 in Damage to Auto Shop

A smoky fire Tuesday morning caused $250,000 damage to an east side auto detail shop, the Madison Fire Department reported.

The fire was reported at 10:25 a.m. in a multi-tenant commercial building at 4914 Pflaum Road, according to a Fire Department news release.

One of the tenants in the building is American Auto Detail LLC.

The initial report to the fire department was that a car was on fire inside the building.

"The first units to arrive confirmed everyone was out of the building and there was heavy black smoke inside the auto detail shop," said spokesman Eric Dahl in the release.

Firefighters used a saw to cut a hole in the overhead garage door, allowing access to the inside, and also cut a hole in the roof to release heat and smoke from the building.

"The fire spread to a large amount of tires that were stored above an office area in the building," Dahl said. "Firefighters had to pull the tires off of the office and remove them from the building to complete extinguishing the fire."

Damage was mostly confined to the unit where the fire started. The other units had to close because electrical service had been cut off during the fire.

"Paramedics checked out two people at the scene but nobody had to be transported to a hospital," Dahl said.

Pflaum Road was shut down between Daniels Street and Mustang Way because hose lines were crossing the road.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

2/8/12 Lindenhurst Weather Forecast

Late Afternoon: A chance of snow. Cloudy, with a high near 38. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tonight: A chance of snow, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. North wind between 3 and 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 46. West wind between 7 and 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 31. West wind between 7 and 9 mph.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. West wind between 7 and 15 mph.

Friday Night: A chance of rain and snow before 5am, then a chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday: Rain and snow likely, mainly before 11am. Cloudy, with a high near 39. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21.

Sunday: Partly sunny and breezy, with a high near 32.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 17.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 37.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 50.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Pipe Bursts Flood Homes and Businesses in Worcester

A NUMBER of homes and businesses were flooded over the weekend after their pipes burst as a result of the freezing weather.

On Saturday night, firefighters in Evesham were called to isolate water supplies after large volumes of water began to enter a shop in the town from the flat above it.

Meanwhile, Stourport firefighters were called to reports of flooding at industrial premises on Sunday evening. Crews in Bromyard, Hereford and Kidderminster were also called out during the weekend to deal with flooded properties.

A similar pattern occurred across Herefordshire and Worcestershire last winter.

Firefighters are encouraging people across the two counties to check that pipes and tanks are suitably insulated to prevent them from bursting in sub-zero conditions. Grant Wills, community safety manager at Here-ford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, said: “A few simple precautions could save a significant amount of time, money and effort.

“Flooding incidents can be very disruptive and costly for homes and businesses and we are keen to encourage everyone to do what they can to prevent pipes freezing and bursting.”

He recommended that pipes are insulated and that people know what to do should a pipe burst. This includes identifying where the stop tap is located and knowing how to safely turn off both water and electrical supplies in an emergency.

Homes Evacuated After Burst Pipe Floods Homes

About 100 homes were evacuated after water began gushing from a drain in East Bridge Road, South Woodham Ferrers.

Flood waters reached about 30in (72cm) before engineers located and repaired a ruptured pipe.

Residents in East Bridge Road had called police at 06:30 GMT to report that water was gushing from a drain.

A reception area was set up for people who had been forced out of homes but they will be allowed back when the flood waters have receded.

"Most residents were initially asked to move upstairs where it was safe to do so," a police spokesman said.

"A total of 13 people were immediately evacuated and were assisted from their homes by members of the Essex Police marine unit and other officers.

"Fifty homes were flooded but there were no casualties. A number of police officers are still at the scene helping residents with mopping up operations now the water has been turned off."

Mid-Day Fire Damages Home

A noontime fire caused serious damage to a residence at 421 West St on Wednesday, Jan. 25. The fire, which started in a utility room, rapidly spread to the carport ceiling and spread into the attic area. Swainsboro firefighters rapidly knocked down the heavy fire, then opened a vent through the roof to stop the spread of fire through the attic. It was determined that the fire began from combustible materials that were stored too close to the gas water heater. Emanuel EMS and Swainsboro Police assisted at the scene. The Red Cross assisted the residents, as the building is uninhabitable at this time.

According to the Consumers Product Safety Commission, fires involving gas water heaters result in numerous structure fires. These fires result in about 316 injuries and 17 deaths per year.

Fire Chief Mike Strobridge reminds residents that there is always an open flame under all gas water heaters. To stay safe DO NOT store any combustible materials, paper materials, or use flammable liquids, paints, or solvents close to a gas water heater. Also follow these rules for any gas fired heaters in homes and/or workshops.

2/7/12 Lindenhurst Weather Forecast

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. North wind between 7 and 9 mph.

Wednesday: A chance of snow showers, mainly after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. North wind around 6 mph becoming south. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday Night: A chance of snow showers, mainly before 1am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 30. Calm wind becoming northwest between 4 and 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 43. West wind between 6 and 13 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. West wind between 5 and 7 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 47.

Friday Night: A chance of snow after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy and breezy, with a high near 35. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday Night: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday: Mostly sunny and breezy, with a high near 34.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy and breezy, with a low around 22.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 35.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 25.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 39.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Burst Pipe Shuts Down Primary School for Day

Children at Pewsey Primary School were given the day off today after a burst pipe left quite a lot of the school flooded.

Parents learned on local radio this morning that the school was closed for the day because of the damage caused by a burst pipe in the boy's toilets.

A member of staff told the Gazette: "We have had to close because of a burst pipe in the boy's loos and the headteacher Nicola Gilbert says there has been quite a lot of damage.

"At the moment we do not know how long we will be closed and we have plumbers here at the moment fixing the burst pipe."

The spokeswoman added: "We hope to know later today if we can re-open tomorrow."

Burst Pipes Flood Homes in Whitley

Two flats in Windermere Road, Whitley, were flooded when a frozen pipe burst early this afternoon.

Firefighters say it is important to make sure pipes are insulated and keep the heating running even if you go away to avoid pipes freezing.

A crew from Dee Road fire station was called to the maisonette shortly after midday by the people living in the downstairs flat. The occupants of the upstairs flat were not at home so firefighters had to wait for police to force entry before they could get in.

Watch manager Andy Balfour said around 75 per cent of the upstairs flat had been damaged by the flood while 40 per cent of the downstairs one was affected.

The crew isolated the water to the maisonette by switching off the supply to it at the mains.

Watch manager Balfour said: "The best thing for people to do to avoid pipes freezing is to make sure they have all their pipes lagged.

"If people go away for any length of time it's worse to turn off your heating completely. I know people want to save but it doesn't take long for a building to cool down when it's not occupied and that can lead to pipes freezing and bursting.

"People should also make a note of what they have to do to shut off the water to their houses or flats and check if they've got the key or whatever tools they need."

Fire Damages Duplex in Rochester

City firefighters this morning battled a house fire in northeast Rochester.

Firefighters were called to 86 Forester St. about 8:30 a.m. Several residents were inside the 2 ½-story duplex and escaped safely before firefighters arrived at the scene, said Deputy Fire Chief Martin McMillan. No injuries were reported.

Firefighters arrived to find flames and smoke rising from the rear of the duplex, he said. The fire flashed over in that area, causing the windows to blow out, he said.

The right side of the house — 86 Forester — sustained heavy fire and smoke damage and is not livable, McMillan said. The other side of the duplex— 88 Forester — had smoke damage, he said. It was not immediately clear if residents of that side of the house will be displaced.

Fifteen people including seven adults and eight children lived in the house, he said. The American Red Cross of Greater Rochester was called to the scene.

McMillan said it appeared the fire started in 86 Forester. Firefighters are investigating, to determine the cause.

2/6/12 Lindenhurst Weather Forecast

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 36. West wind between 8 and 14 mph.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 48. Northwest wind between 7 and 13 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30. North wind between 6 and 8 mph.

Wednesday: A chance of light snow after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming west. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday Night: A chance of light snow, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. West wind between 3 and 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 32.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 46.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 36.

Saturday Night: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday: A chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 33. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy and blustery, with a low around 24.

Monday: Sunny and breezy, with a high near 35.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Pipe Burst Floods Maryland Senate Offices

An old pipe burst in the William S. James Senate office building Monday afternoon, flooding a slew of offices and prompting the Department of General Services to temporarily shutter the building.

Thirty-five of the state's 47 senators have offices in the building, and staff members were moving equipment out of offices on the fourth floor Monday afternoon. The pipe failed on the west side of the fourth floor, where many GOP members have their offices.Sam Cook, a director at the Department of General Services, said the building will reopen Tuesday morning. Three senate offices took the brunt of the damage and will be closed for a longer period of time.

Cook said that a 3-inch water pipe connected to the building's sprinkler system rusted out and ripped open around 1:30 p.m. Monday afternoon. "Most of the damage was just ceiling tiles dropped and the floor is wet," Cook said. He said there was a restoration company on site Monday evening.

The Georgian-style James building, built in 1938, is the older of the two Senate office buildings. Most of it is set aside for individual senators’ offices, while the hearing rooms and committee offices are in the Thomas V. Mike MillerBuilding.

Sen. James N. Robey, a Democrat from Howard County, said his first floor office was spared, but he saw the leak. "It was like a waterfall coming down the elevator shaft," he said. He noted that his socks were wet from walking around the building.

Robey said the pipe that burst was part of the sprinkler system, and was told that the building had to be evacuated since the fire suppression system was no longer functioning.

The Maryland General Assembly began its annual 90-day session last Wednesday. Lawmakers are expected back inAnnapolis Monday evening for a session that starts at 8 p.m.

Parents of Elementary School Students Still Worried About Mold

Several months after Knox County Schools addressed a mold issue at Shannondale Elementary, parents say children are still getting sick.

Following storms in 2011, a tree fell and damaged one classroom in a Shannondale portable building. According to a timeline of information from Knox County Schools, sometime after repairs were completed, the school discovered water damage in the sub-flooring of the classroom, leading to the formation of mold on a portion of the sub-floor.

Since September, the district has taken a number of actions to fix the problem.

At a meeting Tuesday night, Superintendent Dr. Jim McIntyre told parents current air samples show a safeenvironment for classroom use.

"We take issues of school safety and school security very seriously. We want to make sure we have a safe, healthy learning environment for our kids," said Dr. McIntyre.

Knox County Schools also consulted with the Knox County Health Department, which conducted an investigation into the mold findings. The report concluded "no unusual mold exposures to students."

However, several parents say children continue to suffer from headaches, bloody noses and breathing problems.

Wendy Buchheit has two children who attend Shannondale. She says her children's symptoms lessened while they were home during Christmas break, but returned with the start of the new semester.

She says the data collected by the school system isn't accurate enough.

"I hope they will ask the parents to document the symptoms so that we can prove to them that we do still have sick children," she said.

School officials listened to parents for nearly two hours about the issue. Dr. McIntyre said he takes issues of school safety andsecurity very seriously, and will consider further actions.

"We want to make sure every school in our system is a safe, healthy, inviting learning environment for our students so they can be successful academically," he said.

"We'll continue to take those issues seriously. We'll continue to look carefully and assess the situation and take appropriate action if necessary."

Fire Damages Homes in St Helens

Columbia River Fire & Rescue had a busy weekend responding to a house fire in Rainier and another house fire in St. Helens the following day.

Shortly after 4 a.m. on Jan. 28, crews were dispatched to a house fire at 710 B St., in Rainier. On arrival, crews found a fire in the wall and floor on the second story of the home.

All occupants of the home, which is owned by Everett Thorn of Hillsboro, were found safe outside upon arrival. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire and check the home for extension using a thermal imaging camera.

The occupants of the home are the Curt Wyatt family.

The cause of the fire appears to be combustible materials placed too close to the chimney.

Damage to the home is estimated at $15,000 to the home and $12,500 to the contents. The total value of the home is $230,000 and the value of the contents is $100,000. The home is insured.

2/1/12 Lindenhurst Weather Forecast

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. North wind between 5 and 11 mph.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 47. North wind between 3 and 9 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. North wind around 8 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 47. North wind between 8 and 11 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 32. North wind around 6 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 46.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 43.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 32.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 48.

Monday Night: A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 38. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 48.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 32.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 41.