MONROE - Despite a tense scene Sunday afternoon, a building just off the southwest corner of the Square only received minor smoke damage, according to Monroe Fire Department Division Chief Josse Allen.
The fire department responded at about 4:55 p.m., after a small fire and smoke were reported at Patterson and Schardt Orthodontics, 1502 11th St., he said.
At about 4:45 p.m., Scott Patterson, co-owner of the building with Greg Schardt, was in his office inside the building when he noticed a light haze and his fire alarm going off, he said. After checking what he thought might have been a cause of alarm, he adjusted the thermostat to allow air to circulate in the building, Patterson said.
Once air began to circulate, smoke began to "billow" from the vents, he said.
Patterson then called the fire department.
In the meantime, he checked the basement to see if the furnace was damaged, but the smoke had cleared the furnace room by then, he said.
After fire personnel arrived, they shut off power to the furnace, Allen said.
"To my knowledge once we killed the power, the problem went away," he said.
No one was injured in the incident, including the five people who live in the apartments above the orthodontics office. They were allowed back in the building around 6 p.m., Allen said.
The furnace was located in the basement on the south side of the building, he said.
Flames were never visible, Patterson said. But, initially, he was unable to determine exactly what was causing the smoke.
Four fire engines and a ladder truck were called to the scene, which blocked the intersection of 11th Street and 15th Avenue near the Square for more than an hour Sunday.
The fire department responded at about 4:55 p.m., after a small fire and smoke were reported at Patterson and Schardt Orthodontics, 1502 11th St., he said.
At about 4:45 p.m., Scott Patterson, co-owner of the building with Greg Schardt, was in his office inside the building when he noticed a light haze and his fire alarm going off, he said. After checking what he thought might have been a cause of alarm, he adjusted the thermostat to allow air to circulate in the building, Patterson said.
Once air began to circulate, smoke began to "billow" from the vents, he said.
Patterson then called the fire department.
In the meantime, he checked the basement to see if the furnace was damaged, but the smoke had cleared the furnace room by then, he said.
After fire personnel arrived, they shut off power to the furnace, Allen said.
"To my knowledge once we killed the power, the problem went away," he said.
No one was injured in the incident, including the five people who live in the apartments above the orthodontics office. They were allowed back in the building around 6 p.m., Allen said.
The furnace was located in the basement on the south side of the building, he said.
Flames were never visible, Patterson said. But, initially, he was unable to determine exactly what was causing the smoke.
Four fire engines and a ladder truck were called to the scene, which blocked the intersection of 11th Street and 15th Avenue near the Square for more than an hour Sunday.