Malfunctioning Fan Causes Smoke in Starbucks

The staff at Starbucks in downtown Westport noticed a smoke condition Wednesday night at the ceiling level near where an electrician was working on lights earlier in the day.

The staff shut off the lights and called the Westport Fire Department at 8:25 p.m.  The department responded with two engine companies, a truck company and the command car.  The crew from engine 2, using thermal imaging cameras, checked out the lights in question and found they appeared to be in working order.  The truck company laddered the building and checked the heating and ventilation equipment on the roof.

It was discovered that a fan in one of the heating and air conditioning units had malfunctioned and was the cause of the smoke and odor in the store.  The unit was shut off and the Starbucks manager was advised to have the unit serviced.  Fire Department personnel cleared the scene at 9:16 p.m.