Belron Staff Writer
On Saturday Sept 23 at 6:30 p.m. a broken transformer shut down power at the Lebanon Valley Mall, resulting in a broken generator unit inside the Boscov’s store . With unusually humid weather, a greater number of air conditioning units were needed to cool the store. With fewer generators working harder, overheating occurred. According to a Facebook post by Speedwell Engine and Hose, the incident was tracked to a burnt up motor of an air conditioning unit on the roof. The entire mall was evacuated, and within minutes the fire department rushed to the scene. At 7:10 p.m. the mall officially closed down for the night. Multiple fire crews oversaw the Boscov’s maintenance department work to get the generator back in working condition. At approximately 8:20 p.m. the power came back on.
Speedwell, Ebenezer and Neversink fire companies, crews from Annville-Cleona Fire District, fire police and the First Aid and Safety Patrol were dispatched to the scene. Rural Security Fire Co. and city fire crews were called in as replacement units at 7:02 p.m.