Burst Pipe Damages Boston Boarding House

A burst sprinkler system pipe at a boarding house for homeless people in Boston displaced 50 residents and caused major damage to the building.

The pipe burst Saturday evening on the top floor of the three-story building in the Jamaica Plain section and sent water gushing down to the basement. Officials had to turn off utilities to the building because of the water.

Building residents had to leave the home in cold temperatures, but were able to stay on two buses provided by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Officials say many of the residents were taken to hotels and others stayed with family or friends.

Fire officials believe freezing temperatures caused the pipe to burst.

It's not clear if there are long-term housing plans for residents of the building.