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Vehicle Hits Fire Hydrant In Duquesne; Water Now Restored After Repairs

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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Water service has been restored in Duquesne on Wednesday night.

It was off for hours after a car hit a fire hydrant, sending water flowing into the streets and basements and buckling road surfaces.

fire hydrant
Photo Credit: KDKA

It happened in a split second, a hydrant sheared from its base. Immediately afterward, water was gushing from the ground, and it stayed that way for nearly two hours.

"I seen the firetrucks, I seen the police all down there," said Duquesne resident Anita Shanley.

Shanley is one of dozens of homeowners who were impacted by the break in the area of Wool and Mehaffey streets.

"Yea, I'm gonna go buy water," Shanley said. "I was going to run up to the store now. Because it looks a little brownish and we don't want to drink that."

As thousands of gallons flowed down the street, a few homes took on water until the hydrant was fixed.

"We'll have the tanker assignment that's already on alarm to be dispatched if anything happens as far fire wise," Fire Chief Frank Cobb said. "They'll be automatically rolling for the water pressure and water loss."

Shortly before 8 p.m., crews had turned off the main and stopped the gushing water. Now, a challenging repair job ahead.

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