A Montgomery County home was flooded Monday morning after a fire hydrant broke away from a pipe and sent a million gallons of water shooting into the air.
The high pressure pipe sent water onto Peach Orchard Road in Silver Spring around 5:30 a.m. Fire officials say at least one home is flooded. The owners of that home were on vacation in Florida at the time.
Initially, WSSC crews thought the source of the water was a water main break, but they later determined that a fire hydrant broke away from its connection to the pipe.
"Why it came off, we don't know that. We'll look at the old hydrant and [other] pieces and see if we can figure it out," a WSSC official said.
The 55-year-old hydrant was used to battle a 2-alarm house fire on Kings House Road early Monday morning.
About 75 firefighters fought the fire in Burtonsville. One firefighter was hurt after he fell through the home's roof. He was treated and released from a local hospital and is expected to be OK.
Fire officials say the family in the home was able to make it out after they were alerted by smoke alarms. They say the family cat is missing.
The fire began in the home's basement and was believed to be caused by a wood stove. Damage was estimated at $800,000.
