PRESS RELEASE – February 29, 2020 Construction accident creates a “waterfall” in Menlo Park

Menlo Park Fire Protection District

Construction accident creates a “waterfall” in Menlo Park

Menlo Fire – “Water was filling the subsurface parking garage at 500 El Camino Real at an alarming rate as a

waterfall of water cascaded over the edge” said Acting Battalion Chief John Wurdinger

Menlo Park Firefighters responded to a Water Flow - Alarm Sounding, at the Stanford Park Hotel located at 100 El Camino Real at 9.56 am, Saturday, February 29, 2020. Upon their arrival, all of the Hotel Guests had already been evacuated and were standing outside. Acting Battalion Chief John Wurdinger quickly realized that the Hotel wasn’t the problem but the massive Stanford Properties construction site located next door at 500 El Camino Real was.

Construction workers had struck a fire hydrant with a Gradall Reach Forklift, near the railroad tracks, partially shearing it off, and water was free flowing at an estimated rate of 4,500 gallons per minute. That created a “waterfall effect” into the three story deep sub-surface parking garage, which, like a large bath tub, was quickly filling with water. Worse yet, it also appeared to be undermining the actual retaining wall itself, which could result in even greater catastrophic consequences.

California Water Service (Cal-Water) was quickly contacted, as Firefighters tried to locate the hydrant valve. That required actually approaching the damaged hydrant itself and being enveloped in a “water fountain” like cone, only much more powerful. Unfortunately, despite all their efforts, they were not able to stop the flow of water.

Menlo Fire – Firefighter Tyler Keahi (in the water), attempts to shut the hydrant off while a construction worker looks on

Cal-Water representatives arrived on-scene quickly but locating the proper valve to shut off the water main feeding the new hydrant turned out to be problematic, due to the new construction, and changes needed for this large project.

Fire Chief Schapelhouman said “We estimate that the water was flowing at up to about 4,500 gallons per minute for up to an hour. That’s a significant amount of water and the stabilization of the area, now that it’s been saturated and in some areas washed out, especially around the retaining wall, is of concern. It will need to be evaluated for everyone’s safety. In the meantime, construction at the site will be shut-down until the area is pumped out, the damaged area is inspected, then backfilled, re-compacted and then deemed safe. Ironically, we had a major water distribution line break here, but on the El Camino side, back in the early 1990’s. The water was coming out of the ground and was twice as high as the Palm Trees that are still here and along the street. Anderson Chevrolet was located here at that time, and we helplessly watched as their brand new Corvettes disappeared under water in the back lot, almost in the same location as today’s event”.

Menlo Fire – “We believe as much as 4,500 gallons per minute for over an hour was coming from the

sheared off fire hydrant” Fire Chief Schapelhouman said.

Please contact me with any questions and a short video is available upon request.

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