AUBURN – A flood caused by a break in the sprinkler system at the Capt. Frank W. Hulett VFW Post 1603 on Minot Avenue has closed the hall indefinitely and led to the cancellation of the Sunday, Feb. 1, breakfast.

At 5 p.m. Monday, a resident of a nearby neighborhood who was walking his dog spotted water flowing from under the doors of the building and called Auburn police.

Pipes in the ceiling froze during the recent cold snap, then burst, sending water pouring down to the first floor. The water level had reached 4 inches when firefighters arrived, and the basement was quickly flooding.

Post Quartermaster Donald Linscott said an alarm inside the hall had gone off, but was unheard by neighbors.

“The Fire Department was great. They worked for about five hours getting the water out,” Linscott said.

The ladies room ceiling in the basement collapsed and lighting fixtures were hanging when Linscott arrived.

“It’s quite extensive damage, I’m afraid,” Linscott said. “The floor was just replaced about four years ago and that was about six grand.”

As of early Tuesday afternoon, Linscott had contacted Westport Insurance Co. asking that an adjuster be sent to survey the damage. Most of the water had been cleaned up and Servpro had begun placing equipment to dry out the walls and floors.

The hall will remain closed until repairs are finished.