Wiring problem nearly
fixed
after fire scare at church building
(Updated Oct. 25)
photo by
Britt Stanier
By Katherine Greene
Electricians have almost repaired the faulty wiring that caused a fire scare at R. E. Lee Memorial Episcopal Church last Wednesday.
Rick Laughlin, owner of Lexington Electric & HVAC, said his company is in the process of ordering and replacing switches in the building to guard against an electrical fire occurring.
On Oct. 18, music director Daniel Brinson was in his office in the back of the parish house when he smelled what he thought was an electrical fire. He called 911.
Volunteer fire departments from Lexington, Buena Vista and Kerr’s Creek responded, but found no fire. Jimmy Swink, Lexington’s assistant fire chief, said he smelled something burning in the wiring in the stairwell.
Dave Clark, the Lexington city fire chief, said that when a ground wire comes loose in a switch, it can cause such a smell.
Laughlin said that several wires had come loose in some of the wall switches, which were installed when the building was first erected in the 1950s.
“They are just some old switches that have been there for a long time,” he said.
Laughlin said that owners of older buildings and homes in Lexington may want to have their switches checked out.
“There are some old switches from the 1920s that are still functioning,” Laughlin said. He emphasized that preventative maintenance could help prevent other electrical damage in buildings around town.
The church is still waiting for a few switches to arrive, so some areas of the building, including the stairwell where the problem was discovered, are still in the dark.
Produced by Washington and Lee journalism students.
Lead supervisor: Prof. Claudette Artwick
Reporting supervisors:
Technical supervisor: Michael Todd