Pipe bursts in Surrey seniors’ home; some residents being moved

Multiple residents in a Surrey seniors’ home are being moved after extreme cold weather caused pipes to burst Saturday, resulting in water damage to the facility, says Fraser Health, which operates the facility.

Thirteen residents were moved, Dixon Tam, the health authority’s senior consultant, public affairs, told CityNews. All residents are safe, including those who reside in the affected area, he said.

“Some residents directly impacted by water damage are in the process of being moved to alternate locations while we determine the extent of the water damage and our remediation plans,” Tam said. “We will work to ensure we are able to return all affected residents to their homes as soon as possible.”

Carelife Fleetwood has also been dealing with challenges with the heating system since Friday. Fraser Health says portable heating equipment has been brought in.

“I’m not aware of any other facilities experiencing issues at this time,” Tam told CityNews.

As the entire region deals with extreme cold weather and several buildings are dealing with pipes freezing and bursting, Mission Memorial Hospital has also experienced the same issue. As well, a similar issue has been reported on a BC Ferries vessel. As well, on Friday, Vancouver International Airport says that a pipe leaking near one of its gates sent water flooding into a section of the domestic terminal.

With files from Hana Mae Nassar, Pippa Norman, and Renee Bernard.