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Highlands Today

Fairmount Cinemas Reopened After Fire

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By JOE SEELIG and GARY PINNELL

Highlands Today

Published: July 31, 2008

SEBRING - The Fairmount Cinemas theaters were back up and running Wednesday after they were evacuated at about 5:45 p.m. Tuesday when smoke was detected coming from a ladies room on the south end of the building.

The Sebring Fire Rescue Service arrived and helped theater staff and Sebring police with the evacuation of the building, said Fire Chief Brad Batz.

"Staff was working diligently when we arrived to get everyone out of the building for their safety," Batz said. "We assisted with the evacuation."

There was a fire that started with faulty wiring in a ventilation fan in the ladies room ceiling on the south side of the theater, Batz said. It caught fire and burned part of a PVC sanitary pipe system. This released an acrid smoke.

"We isolated the fire and put it out," Batz said.

Firefighters accompanied staff from the Cohan Radio Group radio station located above the north end of the theater to check out the upstairs. They found no sign of fire there and the radio station never lost power, Batz said.
Firemen used a large fan to pull the smoke out of the building.

By about 6:10 p.m. firefighters were already packing up their gear.

About two dozen people were inside when the smoke was detected. Many were given passes to return at another time.

"No one complained of injury, civilian or staff, Batz said.

The theater was allowed to reopen as soon as it was checked out by an electrician. No neighboring businesses had to be evacuated.

Joe Seelig can be reached at 386-5834 and Gary Pinnell can be reached at 386-5828 or jseelig@highlandstoday.com or gpinnell@highlandstoday.com

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