Hockey and basketball teams were escorted out of the Penhold Regional Multiplex through light smoke in the lobby by firefighters after an automatic alarm triggered the evacuation Saturday morning.
More than 100 people gathered outside the building at about 10:15 a.m. as Penhold fire department members traced the source of the smoke to the concession stand kitchen, and then to a mechanical failure in the kitchen exhaust unit on the roof.
“There were teams in the dressing room when we got there,” said Jim Pendergast, Penhold's fire chief. “Our primary concern was to get everyone out of the building.”
After doing a headcount, one of the teams realized they were missing a player. Firefighters helped locate the teammate by searching the building, he noted.
“Luckily we had a lot of people to respond,” Pendergast said of the 12-member- strong force that sprang into action.
At the time of the alarm there were activities going on in the lobby, as well as the library and fitness centre.
Firefighters arrived in two engines and worked with building staff to reset the mechanical system, which had shut down to keep from distributing smoke throughout the building. Event organizers and team volunteers also helped with the evacuation, maintaining order outside.
No injuries were reported and the recreation centre was up and running within an hour.
