The offices at 60 James Street in downtown Parry Sound were evacuated around 11 a.m. this morning (July 15), after smoke came billowing through the ceiling vents.
Firefighters from Parry Sound and McDougall attended the scene, and closed off a section of James Street from Seguin to Mary street, while they investigated.
Chief Fire Training Officer Oliver Maloney says the culprit was the building’s HVAC system.
“A fan motor on a rooftop HVAC system burnt up and expelled smoke into the building…primarily the third floor,” said Maloney.
Maloney says due to the size of the building, it took a while to properly ventilate and clear out the smoke.
The street re-opened to traffic around 1:30 p.m., and the building shortly thereafter.