A vacant building formerly used by charities in North Watford has been “seriously flooded”.
Fire crews were called to the Lemarie Centre in St Albans Road yesterday (December 20) at 9.35pm after suspected burst pipes in the basement.
A Herts Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “One fire engine from Garston fire station was sent to the scene, where the crew found serious flooding in the basement.
At 21:39 @HertsFRSControl mobilised @garstonfire to flooding in the basement of a commercial building; a light weight pump and submersible pump were used to clear the water 🚒
— Herts Fire Control (@HertsFRSControl) December 21, 2022
“Firefighters used a lightweight pump and submersible pump to clear the flooding.”
They left the scene just over two hours later.
A spokesperson for Watford Borough Council, which owns the building, said initial investigations suggest it was caused by “frost and thaw” following the recent cold snap.
The full scale of damage and cost to fix it are currently unknown, they added.
Affinity Water had warned that a “Great Thaw” would wreak havoc across Hertfordshire this week due to sudden temperature rises making exposed pipes expand.
Earlier this year, charities Playskill and Watford Mencap moved out of the Lemarie Centre and into the former Nascot Lawn building in Langley Road, Watford.
The council spokesperson confirmed the building is still vacant.
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