Emergency crews, including firefighters, rushed to a major water-main break along 16 Avenue between Sarcee Trail and Home Road in northwest Calgary on Tuesday night. CTV
A major water-main break caused heavy flooding along 16 Avenue N.W. in Calgary on Tuesday night, forcing road closures and leaving several drivers stranded. Firefighters and police rushed to the scene between Sarcee Trail and Home Road shortly after 8 p.m.
The Calgary Police Service said officers arrived to help the Calgary Fire Department manage traffic and keep people safe.
“(The Calgary Police Service) is on scene assisting CFD with road closures due to a water-main break in the area,” police said.
“There are reports of significant flooding, and several vehicles are stuck in the area.”
Rising Water Overwhelms the Road
Video recorded by witnesses showed water climbing close to the centre median of the roadway. Water poured across lanes and spilled onto sidewalks and nearby pathways, turning a busy stretch of road into a fast-moving stream.
Police confirmed that no injuries were reported during the early stages of the incident. However, the flooding created dangerous conditions for drivers.
“Westbound 16 Avenue will be closed between Home Road and Sarcee Trail for the next several hours,” police said.
“We ask people to avoid the area at this time.”
Firefighters Rescue Drivers
As water levels continued to rise, emergency crews focused on helping people trapped inside their vehicles. By around 9:15 p.m., responders had freed several cars from the flooded roadway.
The fire department later confirmed that crews rescued 13 people from their vehicles. All rescued individuals were safe and did not require medical treatment.
Traffic disruptions stretched across the area as police diverted vehicles away from the flooded section.
Area Still Reeling From Past Water Crisis
The flooding occurred only a few blocks from the site of a major feeder-main failure in the summer of 2024, which severely disrupted Calgary’s water supply for weeks. The new break raised fresh concerns about aging water infrastructure in the northwest part of the city.
Mayor Jeromy Farkas addressed the situation online, warning residents to stay away.
“There has been a water infrastructure failure in Bowness, causing significant localized flooding and road closures. 2000 homes and 100 businesses have been affected by the service disruption,” he said.
“Please assist our emergency crews and first responders by avoiding any non-essential travel in the area surrounding 16th Ave NW and Sarcee Trail NW. The seriousness is being investigated and we will provide more information as soon as possible.”
City Crews Take Over Investigation
By 10:30 p.m., fire crews handed control of the scene to city water services. Officials had not confirmed whether crews shut off the water at that time.
City workers continued to assess damage and work toward restoring normal service as residents waited for updates.
