Water Main Break In Worcester Causes Flood, Fire

WORCESTER, MA — A water main broke near an I-190 off-ramp in Worcester overnight, causing a flood that sparked a fire in a power transformer. The water was shut off as of 8 a.m. Friday, but city crews were still working on repairs.

The break happened sometime between Thursday night and early Friday morning near Ararat Street. A fire broke out when water from the break hit a National Grid transformer along West Boylston Drive.

The water was shut off between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., but the damage lasted into the morning rush hour.

City crews had to shut down the I-190 ramp near Indian Hill Road. Meanwhile, repairs were causing low water pressure and rusty tap water in the area where the break happened.

"As of this morning the City is focusing on getting the high service distribution system back to normal operating conditions. The system is slowly recharging itself as repairs are made. There are no customers connected to the section of the water main that was shut off, however this break will cause widespread rusty water and low pressure," the Department of Public Works and Parks said in a statement.

The repairs were mostly complete by around 4 p.m. on Friday, according to public works.