San Francisco water main break shoots up 20-foot geyser near Stern Grove, Pine Lake Park

San Francisco firefighters and utility crews are responding to a water main break Friday morning in the area of Stern Grove and Pine Lake Park that is sending a geyser of water at least 20 feet into the air.

The San Francisco Fire Department tweeted about the break shortly after 10 a.m. Friday, saying firefighters were at the scene on the 1700 block of Wawona "for a possible water main break." Maps show the block just west of the Stern Grove Recreation Area, home of the annual Stern Grove Festival that presents free concerts every summer, and near Parkside Square and Pine Lake Park

X user @superfrce posted video showing a substantial fountain of water of water rising almost as high as the nearby trees from the break.

Firefighters were assessing risks to structures and residents in the area as crews from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission respond to the scene. Police units are on the scene helping block off Wawona. The public is being asked to avoid the area. 

Chopper footage showed that the geyser produced by the rupture was happening right next to a home on Wawona Street. Crews appeared to be able to turn off the flow of water to the break at around 11:25 a.m., over an hour after the initial report by the fire department.

According to the SFPUC, the cause of the break appears to be the failure of an 8-inch valve connected to a 60-inch water transmission line that takes water from a treatment plant to the Sunset Reservoir on the west side of the city.

Chopper video showed mud from the water flow filling part of the field below, with the level of mud rising as high as the bottom of two benches on the grounds. 

A spokesman for the SFPUC said that crews were assessing the stability of the hillside under the homes closest to the water main break. Officials said customers in the surrounding area may experience low or no water pressure.

"Initially, I walk out to my side yard and I heard a crack and a boom; loud noise," said neighbor Andrew Trinh. "I just don't know how much the soil will get eroded from the water washing down the hill. We may lose the street if they don't shut it down soon."

This is not the first time a major water main break has caused problems in the area. In the summer of 2021, a water main ruptured, flooding the grove and causing extensive damage to the hillside and the area in front of and behind the festival stage.

The water damage to the festival grounds was serious enough for the festival to cancel its final late August fundraising concert featuring Too $hort and Tower of Power. Organizers called the damage from the break "catastrophic" in a press release.

Photos and video provided by festival organizers showed the extent of the damage. Mud and water had flowed across the lawn in front of the stage as well as through the backstage area.

Festival organizers solicited donations from supporters to raise funds to repair the damage. The festival was able to open on schedule the following summer.

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