Smoke Forces Evacuation Of Fairmount Cinema

The Fairmount Cinemas theaters were evacuated at about 5:45 p.m. Tuesday after smoke was detected coming from a ladies room.

An employee of the theater told Highlands Today that the smoke was coming from faulty wiring inside the ladies room. There were no visible flames, the employee said.

The Sebring Fire Rescue Service arrived and helped staff 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, which 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 station located above the north end of the theater to check out the upstairs.

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. Many were given passes to return at another time when the problem has been resolved.

"No one complained of injury, civilian or staff, Batz said. The theater should reopen as soon as it is checked out by an electrician who was on the way.

No neighboring businesses had to be evacuated.

Management could not be reached for comment early Tuesday evening.