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At approximately 11:45 a.m. on June 11, thick black smoke began pouring from the roof at Lejeune Hall aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico. A planned power outage activated the generator, which began malfunctioning and emitting the smoke. Everyone was evacuated from the building safely, and there were no injuries. The MCBH Fire Department, along with crews from Stafford and Prince William County, responded immediately, cutting power to the generator and securing the building. There was no damage to the building other than a smoke stain on the roof.

Photo by Eve A. Baker

Smoke pours from Lejeune Hall roof; fire department, neighboring counties respond

22 Jun 2015 | Eve A. Baker Marine Corps Base Quantico

At approximately 11:45 a.m. on June 11, thick black smoke came flowing out of a pipe near the Lejeune Hall roof. Within minutes, firefighters from the Marine Corps Base Quantico Fire Department had arrived to take control of the scene.



The Lejeune Hall officer-of-the-day, Gunnery Sgt. Phillip Halpain, said he, “and a civilian employee had already begun directing the evacuation of the building.” Halpain said he was the last person out of the building.



Demonstrating readiness to handle a potentially major incident, the fire department sent five fire trucks, an ambulance and several support vehicles. Engine 9 from the Stafford County Fire Department, and Prince William County Fire Department’s fire truck 523 and engine 503, along with the battalion chief, arrived to provide mutual aid. The Provost Marshal’s Office sent several officers and vehicles to block off the streets around the building to prevent vehicles and pedestrians from getting in the way of the fire crews.



Deputy Fire Chief Charles Sullivan of the MCBQ Fire Department said after an investigation, firefighters determined the source of the smoke was the building’s generator. A brief, planned power outage by Dominion Power activated the generator, which then began to malfunction. Sullivan said he and another firefighter “went inside and secured the fuel and power to the generator, and that stopped the smoke.” There was never an actual fire in the building, according to Sullivan.



Sullivan said firefighters did a full sweep of the building to ensure everyone had evacuated and to check for smoke and fire in the various office and storage spaces. The building was locked down for about an hour, and employees remained outside or went out to lunch while the inspection took place.



Sullivan said there were no injuries and only minimal damage to the building. According to building manager Kenny Wright, “there was no damage to the inside of the building;” the only evidence of the incident was a slight lingering odor of smoke in limited sections of the building and a black smoke stain on the roof on the parking lot side of the building.



— Writer: ebaker@quanticosentryonline.com
Marine Corps Base Quantico