MOUNT VERNON — Workers evacuated the Knox County Service Center after fire alarms went off on Tuesday morning.
The 911 operations center dispatched the Mount Vernon Fire Department around 9:30 a.m.
According to Fire Chief Chad Christopher, on-scene light smoke with an odor of electrical, such as a light ballast burnout, was found on the third floor.
Firefighters searched the third floor of the service center, trying to find the source of the smoke and smell. Crews also went to the roof via the interior stairs to check out the rooftop heating units.
Firefighters did not find the source of the smoke and smell. They opened windows and used an electrical fan to ventilate the building.
They reset the fire alarm; no additional smoke was found after ventilation.
The MVFD responded with a ladder truck and engine. However, firefighters did not access the roof from the outside.
“At times when the emergency is over we set the ladder truck up for training purposes to identify the best locations to reach the roof and windows,” Christopher explained.
Workers returned to their offices at 10:30 a.m. after a chilly hour outside. Christopher said the engine crew remained on the scene until ventilation and a second floor sweep was completed.
