Hundreds displaced from Allston apartments due to pipe burst allegedly caused by tenant

BOSTON (WHDH) - About 200 people were displaced from their apartments in Allston early Wednesday morning after a tenant allegedly caused a pipe to burst.

Firefighters responding to a report of a major water leak on the fifth floor of a 10-story North Beacon Street apartment complex just after midnight turned the water off after learning a tenant changing his faucet accidentally broke a high-pressure hot water line, according to Boston Deputy Fire Chief Stephen McNeil.

The tenant sustained minor burns to his hands and was taken to a local hospital.

Crews cut power to the affected area, which caused the building’s alarm system to go down and prompted fire officials to evacuate the entire building.

“Unfortunately, we had to evacuate everyone because without an alarm system they can’t remain in place,” McNeil said.

Those displaced from their apartments were able to retrieve any necessities, such as pets, keys and medication, before retreating to a temporary shelter at Jackson/Mann K-8 School.

Some residents looked for alternate temporary housing options.

“I was not expecting to come home from my shift to that,” tenant Magda Mazri said. “I guess I’ll go crash on my friend’s couch for the next couple of hours until they let me back into my building.”

Maintenance personnel, plumbers, electricians, and tradespeople are working on repairs to the building before the residents will be allowed back inside.

Boston’s Inspectional Services Department announced in a statement that they anticipate the electrical panels on all floors, with the exception of seven units, will be repaired by 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Officials are working to relocate the tenants of the seven units that sustained substantial water damage.

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