Broken sprinkler floods part of Bellevue high-rise, displacing dozens of residents

BELLEVUE, Wash. -- A broken sprinkler pipe flooded several floors at a Bellevue high-rise Tuesday, displacing  occupants of an estimated 60 units.

The Bellevue Fire Department evacuated the Elements Apartment building Tuesday afternoon to investigate and assess the water damage, but allowed all occupants but those on the top seven floors back in their homes by Tuesday night.

A fire department spokesman said it all started when someone in the basement garage drove their car into a pipe, which set off a fire pump and then fractured another pipe on the 27th floor.

Fire officials said this caused the flooding of several floors, which then led to damage to dozens of units and elevators. As people waited hours to return to their homes, many wondered if their homes and keepsakes were OK.

“I had something my grandma and grandpa made me when I was 3-years-old, and I’ve had that on a shelf above my bed, and it’s eight inches away from one of the fire sprinklers, so I’m really hoping that our unit is fine for that alone, because other than that—that’s what insurance is for,” said resident Kyle Morrison.

The fire department estimates 20,000 to 30,000 gallons of water were released during the pipe break. No one was injured.

Residents said those living on the top seven floors will have to stay in hotels overnight.

They said one elevator is working, but the others were flooded and needed to be shut down.