MONROE - No cleanup at Monroe City Hall from smoke damage was needed, Mayor Ron Marsh said Thursday.
A malfunction in an air conditioner compressor created a small explosion and heavy smoke in a mechanical room in the basement of City Hall at about 1 p.m. Wednesday.
A large amount of smoke then traveled through the air conditioner ductwork to other parts of the building, according to Monroe Fire Chief Daryl Rausch.
Too much pressure on the air conditioner system caused by the malfunctioning compressor unit led to the explosion, Rausch said in a news release.
The smoke forced the evacuation and temporary closing of the building.
The cost of repairing the air conditioning is not yet know, Marsh said Thursday.
Repairmen were called Wednesday afternoon to evaluate the air conditioning unit for parts and repairs, he added.
Marsh said he had didn't know how old the unit is.
Moderate smoke in the basement, as well as lighter smoke in the first floor, required the closure of the building in order to protect the health of City Hall employees, Rausch said.
"City Hall was never in danger of serious damage and the incident was mostly contained in the mechanical room. The evacuation was precautionary, and the fire department was alerted, because of the heavy smoke present in the lower level," he said.
City Hall opened at 8 a.m. Thursday morning.
Employees of the Parks and Recreation Department initially heard the explosion and found smoke in the hallway. The Monroe Fire Department was alerted and made entry into the room with protective equipment and discovered the source of the smoke.
The incident was declared under control just 12 minutes after the call came in. The fire department is housed in City Hall.
Twenty-eight members of the fire department responded to the alarm and assisted with ventilating the building and checking roof-top air handlers.
A malfunction in an air conditioner compressor created a small explosion and heavy smoke in a mechanical room in the basement of City Hall at about 1 p.m. Wednesday.
A large amount of smoke then traveled through the air conditioner ductwork to other parts of the building, according to Monroe Fire Chief Daryl Rausch.
Too much pressure on the air conditioner system caused by the malfunctioning compressor unit led to the explosion, Rausch said in a news release.
The smoke forced the evacuation and temporary closing of the building.
The cost of repairing the air conditioning is not yet know, Marsh said Thursday.
Repairmen were called Wednesday afternoon to evaluate the air conditioning unit for parts and repairs, he added.
Marsh said he had didn't know how old the unit is.
Moderate smoke in the basement, as well as lighter smoke in the first floor, required the closure of the building in order to protect the health of City Hall employees, Rausch said.
"City Hall was never in danger of serious damage and the incident was mostly contained in the mechanical room. The evacuation was precautionary, and the fire department was alerted, because of the heavy smoke present in the lower level," he said.
City Hall opened at 8 a.m. Thursday morning.
Employees of the Parks and Recreation Department initially heard the explosion and found smoke in the hallway. The Monroe Fire Department was alerted and made entry into the room with protective equipment and discovered the source of the smoke.
The incident was declared under control just 12 minutes after the call came in. The fire department is housed in City Hall.
Twenty-eight members of the fire department responded to the alarm and assisted with ventilating the building and checking roof-top air handlers.