AMHERST — Water damage caused by frozen pipes at a fraternity and sorority at the University of Massachusetts left both homes temporarily uninhabitable, with the possibility that those living at the fraternity house may not be able to move in before classes resume for the spring semester, according to the Amherst Fire Department.

With temperatures getting into the low single digits and teens each night in the days leading up to Christmas, and the homes vacant as people headed home for an extended winter break, firefighters responded to both locations when thawed pipes burst, said Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgren.

At Iota Gamma Upsilon sorority, 406 North Pleasant St., the third floor sustained moderate water damage, while more serious damage, including to electrical systems, occurred on Christmas Eve at the 496 North Pleasant Theta Chi fraternity.

“The heat had been turned way down or was off in both buildings,” Stromgren said.

In both cases, the Office of Greek Affairs on campus was alerted to the situation. 

Assistant Building Commissioner David J. Waskiewicz said both locations should be ready for tenants for the start of the spring semester, in February, if repairs start immediately. 

At Iota Gamma, even though the damage is spread among three floors, it is limited and can be corrected easily, Waskiewicz said.  Theta Chi has more extensive damage due to the location and nature of the leak that affected multiple floors.

Should the homes not be ready for occupancy, it’s uncertain where the student tenants would live.

Stromgren said the incidents show that when people are going to be away during cold weather, not to turn off the heat or drop the thermostat. “The first line of defense is to leave the heat on as normal,” Stromgren said.

While a strategy for some homeowners with frozen pipes is to leave water dripping, Stromgren said this won’t affect the sprinkler pipes in both new and multi-tenant homes and in commercial spaces.

Waskiewicz, too, said that with the colder temperatures, the incidents emphasize the need to monitor buildings to ensure an adequate temperature is maintained throughout.

In addition to the incidents at the homes, firefighters also responded to a damaged water pipe at La Veracruzana restaurant in downtown.

With another cold snap expected in the coming days, where the daytime temperature may not get above freezing, Stromgren said residents and business owners should maintain the practice of keeping heat on, even if they will be away or the business is closed.