Dayton Power & Light says a power line short caused the evacuation of the Reibold Building in downtown Dayton this morning. The short caused a loss of power and smoke filled the building's basement level, which set off fire alarms.
The Reibold building houses Public Health, Dayton and Montgomery County and Job and Family Services. About 350 employees were sent home for the day while crews worked to repair the damaged power line.
Witnesses in and outside the building say they heard a loud boom as the power outage occurred.
DP&L Director of Operations, Don Gebele says the short happened in equipment owned by the Reibold building.
"We’re expecting that the electrician will be done sometime yet this evening and the Dayton Power & Light crews will make the terminations on our side and be able to get them reenergized.”
A notice on the Public Health website says all offices will reopen at 8am Thursday.
