Broken pipe floods facility

The board of Center Pointe, a recreational and educational facility for people with disabilities, was getting ready for the biggest fund-raiser of the year Saturday when water started coming out of the ceiling and walls.

“We don’t even know what we are going to do,” board president June Jones said. “If the repair is too extensive, we may have to move.”

For unknown reasons, a sprinkler pipe broke about 1:30 p.m., flooding the center at 1408 N. Washington St. with as much as 5 inches of water.

“It’s lucky we were here,” said Jones, who was helping other board members paint and prepare for the 200-person event, which was scheduled for this coming Saturday. “If we hadn’t been here, I don’t know what would have happened.”

Spokane firefighters responded and helped pump out some of the water. But the board was left to do the rest – and contemplate the center’s future.

Each week, Center Pointe serves about 300 persons with disabilities. It provides about 25 classes, including reading, woodshop and art classes, Jones said. Its only funding comes from the United Way, fundraising and its catering business.

The insurance claims adjuster had not yet arrived to put a value on the damage, Jones said Saturday afternoon. But events such as a church raffle scheduled for today and wedding receptions and classes are in doubt.

“This building has suffered a lot of damage,” she said. “We’ve just been working our pants off to salvage what we can.”

Jones doesn’t know what caused the pipe to burst. The cold temperatures may have contributed, but the center has operated at the same location for 15 years without problems, she said.

“The water ran so fast. It just flooded us,” Jones said. “It started in our ceiling and wiped out the whole front of our building.