Ice hangs off an outside window ledge at Hashinger Hall at Kansas University. A broken sprinkler head flooded several rooms in the residence hall early Sunday morning.

A broken sprinkler head caused water to flood 15 resident rooms in Hashinger Hall early Sunday morning.

The rooms affected were adjacent to the elevators on the fourth, fifth and sixth floors. Kansas University spokeswoman Jill Jess said damage to the rooms was minimal.

“The things that were on the floors in the rooms might have gotten wet, but that’s about it,” Jess said.

The dorms closed Friday for winter break. A few staff members were still living in the building.

Jess said the housing department was replacing the carpet in the affected rooms, and that the work should be done by the time the residence halls reopen on Jan. 12.

“Nothing was destroyed and we’re working to make sure that everything’s ready when they get back,” Jess said. “We anticipate no problem having Hashinger ready to go in plenty of time for that move-in date.”

KU dispatchers reported that 42 “trouble alarms” began going off in the building just after 4 a.m. Sunday. The system went haywire due to water leaking through the ceiling, said Sgt. Troy Mailen of KU’s Public Safety Office.

Firefighters began cleaning up with water with floor squeegees around 4:45 a.m.

Officials with the student housing department showed up to the scene immediately and began to assist with the clean-up. They also contacted the affected students.

“They got to work immediately notifying students whose rooms were affected, just to make sure that they didn’t worry while they were on break and that they understood that things were being taken care of for them,” Jess said.

Jess said other students with questions can contact the housing department starting today at 864-4560.