Smoke Fills Second Floor Of Ripley’s Museum

St. Augustine Fire Fighters responded to Ripley's Museum when smoke was discovered on the second floor of the building on Friday around noon.

St. Augustine, FL – Smoke filled the second floor of the popular Historic City attraction, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum, when fire fighters from St. Augustine Fire Department arrived on Friday shortly after noon.

Lt. Chance Hines of the SAFD said, “The upstairs was filled with a significant amount of smoke and smelled electrical in nature when we arrived,” adding that “Ripley’s staff did a great job of evacuating the building prior to the fire department arrival.”

Fire fighters were not able to find an immediate source but after an extensive search, the smoke was traced back to the blower motor in an air conditioning unit that burned up. Electricity to the a/c unit was shut down once the unit was identified. Lt. Hines said the smoke dissipated from the building on its own very quickly.

St. Augustine Fire Department’s Engine 43, 44 and 46 responded along with Ladder 47, St. Johns County Engine 14 and Rescue 12. St Augustine Police Department handled traffic and the curious onlookers that tried to wander in through the scene.

Fire fighters cleared the scene at about 12:45pm.

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