Philipsburg: --- Personnel of the fire department responded to a fire in the Government Administration Building yesterday afternoon. Fire Commander Frans Niuewenhoven said the fire was electrical and it began in the meter room. He said the fire was brought under control very quickly and investigation into the fire will soon take place.
A press release from GIS states that the fire began around 4.15 pm, an apparent short circuit caused an electrical fire on the main electrical line in the Government Administration Building.
Personnel quickly evacuated the building while fire fighters extinguished the flames, which were contained in the small electrical room at the rear of the Government Administration Building. Some smoke did protrude to certain areas of the building due to normal air movement, but there were no injuries to the occupants of the building.
GEBE personnel were immediately contacted in order to cut power to the building, and work has already started on restoring electrical power.
The public is notified that the Government Administration Building is closed tomorrow; and personnel working at the main government building are allowed to stay at home, with the exception of essential personnel who have already been notified. Work is progressing in order to restore normal operations at the building by Wednesday, April 8, 2009.
All other government departments not housed at the Government Administration Building will operate normally on Tuesday, April 7th.
The fire department also responded to another fire earlier in the day in the Cole Bay area during the morning hours yesterday. Niuewenhoven said while there was a bush fire and an apparent arson. He said the police have arrested one person in relation to arson of a house. The house he said was not badly damaged since the fire fighters managed to bring the blaze under control.