A break in an 8-inch water main sent water gushing down Troy Lane near the Deerfield School in Short Hills early Friday evening, resulting in the flooding of three area homes, Millburn police said. 

The Millburn Fire Department was on scene pumping water out from the flooded homes, police said, and New Jersey American Water Company was already making the necessary repairs to the broken pipe, a company spokesman said.

New Jersey American Water Company External Affairs Manager Richard G. Barnes said the company has shut off water to a total of seven area homes and is delivering bottled water to those homeowners during the shutoff. The company also made sure to salt the street and surrounding roadways because of the freezing weather expected tonight.

Barnes said the broken pipe occurred after 4 p.m. today and he expected the work to be completed 4-6 hours afterwards barring any complications.

PSE&G officials shut down electricity to area homes to prevent any additional problems, police said.

Patch will update this story as events warrant.