Smoke prompts evacuation at Baptist Medical Group Building

Smoke began billowing through the air conditioning vents at the Baptist Medical Center building at 8880 Navarre Parkway on Wednesday Sept. 28, prompting a call to Holley Navarre Fire District.
Employees and patients were evacuated quickly and safely and some waited nearby to find out the cause of the smoke.

“There was smoke coming out of the air conditioning vents,” said Elizabeth Acosta, an office manager in the building.
Firefighters from HNFD cleared the building, checked each floor and found no flames.
The smoke came from an electrical unit on the first floor, said Fire Chief Ron Norton, but the source of the unit failure was unclear.
“There have been some power fluctuations this morning,” said Norton. “Everything is ok.”
Heavy rains and thunderstorms swept through the area in the late morning hours, causing power levels at local homes and businesses to surge.