HOPE — Water spewed through a broken sprinkler pipe in a Hope Elementary School wing Saturday morning, Jan. 25, saturating the carpet and threatening the science lab and library. But the sprinkler malfunction automatically alerted the Hope Fire Department, resulting in a crew of firefighters quickly descending on the school, stopping the damage.

“They were right there,” said Union 69 Superintendent Nancy Weed, Monday. “They did an incredible job.”

Cleaning, drying and repairing the school, however, will continue through Tuesday, and the 180 K-8 students will remain on their unexpected holiday until Wednesday.

Hope Elementary is on Highfield Road, just off of Route 235 in Hope.

The ceiling pipe froze, apparently, for lack of proper insulation. When the sprinkler system was installed, the pipe was protected from the elements by fiberglass insulation, as well as pieces of rigid foam insulation. At some point in time, when the pipes were being maintained, a piece of rigid foam was not properly replaced.

A combination of below-zero weather and a piercing wind caused the 1.5-inch pipe to freeze and then bust open Saturday morning.

The water then filled the floor of the seventh grade classroom and computer area of the library, running down the hallway along the carpet, “as all good water will do,” said Weed.

“All things considered, if you are going to have a break, it’s a great place to do it,” she said.

Hope firefighters vacuumed the water and called Camden-based Superior Restoration to help shampoo and dry the carpets.

On Monday, the vacuums were still at work, with heaters and dehumidifiers working hard. Library books were boxed and removed from the space, and lockers were pulled from the walls to dry and replace any affected sheetrock, with the help of Dick Brodis contractors. Plumber Mike Eaton was fixing the pipes, and Weed anticipated all would be back in place by Wednesday morning.

“I can’t thank the Hope Fire Department enough,” said Weed. “They did an incredible job. That’s what community is all about, isn’t it? Chief Clarence Keller was right there, and stayed there, getting it all ready for the kids.”

Editorial Director can be reached at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657