The Arnold Branch of the Jefferson County Library, 1701 Missouri State Road, was evacuated and closed at about 1:30 p.m. today (March 14) after employees noticed a smoky haze in the building, said Pam Withrow, assistant director for library services.
Rock Community Fire Protection District inspectors determined that high winds caused overhead wires to rub together causing them to spark and produce the haze in the building, Rock Fire spokesman Ron Harder said.
Harder said there was no fire, and Ameren came to the scene to correct the problem.
Withrow said the building was evacuated and the fire district was called after staff noticed the problem. She said she did not know how many people were in the building when it was evacuated.
Withrow said portions of the building lost power before the evacuation.
She said library officials hope the building will be open again by Friday (March 15). She said updates will be posted on the library’s website and Facebook page.
The scheduled Boos and Booze: the history of hauntings of infamous beer barons of St. Louis scheduled for 6:30 tonight at the Arnold branch has been moved to the Arnold Recreation Center, 1695 Missouri State Road, Withrow said.