Equipment Malfunction Leaves Smoke In Office Building

After a smoke condition occurred at the Rocky Glen Mill office building at 75 Glen Road in Sandy Hook on the afternoon of December 24, local firefighters were dispatched to the scene to investigate whether a structure fire was underway there.

All five local volunteer fire companies were alerted of the problem, and Sandy Hook, Hook & Ladder, and Hawleyville fire crews proceeded to the area on the 2:37 pm call.

Gray smoke had been reported in the first story of the 19th Century office building, said Sandy Hook Fire Chief Bill Halstead.

Few people were inside the building at the time because it was Christmas Eve. They evacuated the premises, he said.

An investigation discovered that an electric motor used by Sandy Hook Hydro, LLC, had malfunctioned, causing the device to emit gray smoke, Chief Halstead said.

Sandy Hook Hydro is a small firm that generates electricity from equipment powered by the nearby Pootatuck River. It is located in quarters directly adjacent to the office building.

 Chief Halstead estimated the damage at $5,000. There were no injuries in the incident, he said.

 Firefighters used powerful fans to remove smoke from the building. They contacted the power plant’s operator to inform him of the problem and he then came to the scene.

 The power plant operator could not be reached for comment before deadline on December 27.