Water main break reported on Lorna Road in Mattapan

A water main break erupted on Lorna Road in Mattapan on Thursday afternoon while firefighters were putting out a blaze at a home on the street, officials said.

Fire officials said around 2:30 p.m. that the fire had been reported at 68 Lorna Rd., and that the only inhabitant at the time was a cat that made it out safely.

Then the water main broke, causing homes to flood, the fire department said.

“While attacking fire at 68 Lorna Rd., companies are now standing over a major water main break which has Lorna Rd starting to buckle & is flooding homes & streets from 79 Lorna, down to Lena Terrace & across to W. Seldon,” fire officials wrote on X, the popular social media platform formerly known as Twitter, at 2:40 p.m. “Please avoid area. Water & Sewer [emergency] crews have been called.”

While attacking fire at 68 LornaRd, companies are now standing over a major water main break which has Lorna Rd starting to buckle & is flooding homes & streets from 79 Lorna, down to Lena Terrace & across to W. Seldon. Please avoid area. Water&Sewer emerg. crews have been called pic.twitter.com/zjLqvCWOdS

— Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) September 14, 2023

The Mattapan mishap followed an earlier issue with a fire pipe that was reported near Fenway Park, snarling traffic ahead of a day game against the archrival Yankees, police said.

Boston police initially said a water main break had occurred on Kilmarnock Street shortly before noon, but a spokesperson for the city’s Water and Sewer Commission later provided clarification.

“That situation near Fenway is not a water main break, it’s a fire pipe supplying the fire suppression system at Target,” said commission spokesperson Stephen Mulloney via email.

He said repairs are the “responsibility of the owner but BWSC is there with full-blown assistance.”

The commission tweeted at 2:06 p.m. that water service had been restored to the area around the ballpark.

“This is not a water main break, it is a fire pipe servicing Target 1341 Boylston St,” the commission tweeted. “BWSC crews assisting with roadway clean up. Water service restored to area.”

This is not a water main break, it is a fire pipe servicing Target 1341 Boylston St. BWSC crews assisting with roadway clean up. Water service restored to area.

— BWSC (@BOSTON_WATER) September 14, 2023

This breaking news story will be updated when more information is available.