Santa Rosa fire hydrant gushes thousands of gallons of water after motorist backs into it

Santa Rosa Fire Department Capt. Mike Harrison shields water from firefighter Tim Glass as he tries to close a fire hydrant that was sheared off by a vehicle Monday at the corner of West Eighth and Prince streets in Santa Rosa.

After an unidentified driver backed into the hydrant, firefighters scrambled to contain thousands of gallons surging from the split hydrant as streets around it started to flood.

Harrison said they arrived at the scene about 11 a.m. and managed to contain the gushing water in about 10 minutes.

“The driver reversed into it pretty hard since the hydrant was almost in two,” he said.

“About eight to 10 thousand gallons poured out, since those hydrants are capable of releasing 1,500 gallons per minute.”

There were no injuries reported, Harrison said.