Building in Public Square damaged by frozen pipes

The ceiling of the vacant Wind and Wire Music store, 75 Public Square, collapsed about 6 p.m. Friday because of a broken pipe, Watertown City Fire Department battalion chief Patrick J. Wiley said.

"The ceiling is falling down here," Mr. Wiley said at the scene of the incident.

He said that pipes on the third floor probably froze a few days ago, causing them to crack, and that the three-story building sustained heavy water damage once the ice melted Friday.

"There's water damage all the way through," he said, adding that the fire crew had shut off the water to prevent further damage to the building.

The building was unoccupied at the time of the incident and the fire department responded to the scene shortly after a passerby called 911 about 6 p.m. Friday, Mr. Wiley said.

The owner of the store, Fred M. Cole, Glenfield, was called to the scene shortly after the fire crew arrived, Chief Wiley said.