Crime & Safety

Smoke Forces Evacuation at Church School in New CIty

Overheated heating/air conditioning unit cause of problem; no one injured at Gracepoint Gospel Fellowship.

Smoke from an apparently overheated heating/air conditing unit filled a classroom at Gracepoint Gospel Fellowship in New City and forced the evacuation of the building today, according to fire officials.

Hillcrest Fire Chief Kim Weppler said no one was injured in the noontime incident and there was no apparent damage to the church at 384 New Hempstead Road.

Weppler said smoke filled a classroom in the lower level of an old portion of the church complex and staff evacuated children from the building. Weppler said that section of the church was equipped with a sprinkler system, and the fire alarm was sent by someone using an alarm pull-box at the church.

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The smoke cleared from the building after a short time, Weppler said.

 

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