The Coos Bay Fire Department responded late Wednesday evening to the report of smoke in the Fred Meyer store at 1020 South 1st Street. Store employees noticed an odor of smoke that smelled like overheated wiring or electrical appliance. Store staff and firefighters located the source of the smoke in the mechanical room that houses the Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) equipment. After clearing the room and nearby areas of smoke, a careful investigation found that one of the HVAC appliances had failed causing the overheating. Damage was contained to the HVAC appliance and ductwork only, and Fred Meyer store officials indicated that this event will not impact store hours, business, or operation.
