Sault Ste. Marie City Fire and Police responded to an alarm at the old Karl's Cuisine building on Portage Ave Sunday morning.
The restaurant has been closed and vacant since the fall of 2022.
The call came in around 8 a.m. from central dispatch and when police first arrived, they noticed water inside the building.
Sault Fire Chief Edwin Miller said when firefighters arrived moments later, uncleared snow from the doorways this winter prevented crews from immediately entering the building.
When firefighters finally got inside, they said a sprinkler from the fire suppression unit broke and water rushed down to the floor where there were about 6 inches of water already on the floor.
"The water had been going for a little bit so there is some damage. We also found plastic water lines that cracked. Usually when it is really cold, and then there is a fluctuation in temperature, it's enough when there is enough pressure on the lines that they start to thaw and we start to see leaks, or damage," Miller explained.
Miller reminds business owners to be aware of potential hazards like this.
"We have had at least three calls for broken water lines this winter. Even though some businesses are not open in the winter, if they have a fire suppression system and an alarm system in the building, they are required by code to maintain them. The heat was shut off to this building but the water was left on," Miller said.
Sault Public Works personnel helped clear the snow around the building.
The scene was cleared around 9:30 a.m.
