Faulty light fixture causes smoky scene

(Photo by Russ Mitchell) Members of the Spencer Fire Department began rolling up hoses just before 9 a.m. Tuesday at an office complex near the intersection of 10th Street Southwest and Second Avenue Southwest. A light fixture in the north end of the building ignited some duct work and prompted the call to firefighters. [Order this photo]

Staff members at a regional housing agency arrived to find a smoky start to the day in south Spencer.

But the damage should be minimal and clean up was already under way Tuesday at the Northwest Iowa Regional Housing Authority offices.

Firefighters were called at 7:53 a.m. to the office complex near the intersection of 10th Street Southwest and Second Avenue Southwest. Northwest Iowa Regional Housing Authority offices are at the north end of the building, and the suite was full of smoke when the staff arrived to begin their day.

"It was heavy enough that it filled up various offices and the attic space above," Spencer Fire Chief Doug Duncan said.

Employees were allowed to go back in the building at about 9:15 a.m. The fire chief reported a lot of smoke but no flames in the office building.

"It's a haze and it's a pungent little smell," he said. "They may have to leave the doors open to clear things out, but they should be all right."

Deputy State Fire Marshal David Schipper traced the cause to a fluorescent light fixture.

"One of the light fixtures in the hall way ignited some air conditioning venting duct work," Schipper said. "That's what caused all of the smoke. They did have to close down the business today."

The fiberglass and plastic duct work was removed and a cleaning firm was called in to mitigate some of the smoke odor. An electrician was called in by the building manager and a hallway light fixture will be completely replaced.

Firefighters were at the scene for about 90 minutes and no injuries were reported.