By Scott Taylor,Staff Writer

AUBURN – A malfunctioning fire sprinkler damaged floors and walls at Auburn Hall Friday morning.

Fire crews responded to the report of an active sprinkler at 6:12 a.m. on the city building’s third floor, according to Platoon Chief Paul Blanchard.

“When we got the call from dispatch, we just assumed that a fire set the sprinkler off,” Blanchard said. The sprinkler sprayed water for about eight minutes before crews determined there was no fire and shut it off.

That was enough time for the system to dump a lot of water, said City Manager Pat Finnigan. The sprinkler was located on the eastern side of the building, in the Special Education and Learning and Teaching offices. Water damaged floors, ceilings and walls along the Court Street side of the building.

“Our big concern right away was the computers, but we don’t think the water got to any of them,” she said. Some third-floor carpets will have to be replaced, as will some ceiling tiles on the second and third floors. Finnigan said it was too early to estimate how much the repairs would cost.

“The good news is that this is a new building, and most of it is still under warranty,” Finnigan said. The city moved into Auburn Hall in October 2004 after an $8.7 million renovation project. Finnigan said warranties on all parts of the building, including the fire alarm and sprinkler system, are still good.

“You don’t want this kind of thing to happen, but if it has to happen, it’s best when there is a good warranty on it,” Finnigan said.

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