By Bill Lindelof and Tony Bizjak
blindelof@sacbee.com
A small fire in the press room of the Sacramento Bee has been extinguished, city firefighters reported. The 8:45 a.m. fire forced evacuation of the building at 21st and Q streets.
The fire appeared to have been caused by welding work on new equipment being installed in the press room. Fire official said smoke worked its way into the building's heating and air conditioning system, spreading smoke to other areas of the building.
"We have it completely contained," Battalion Chief Rick Rethford said. "There have been no injuries."
The fire sent a small amount of smoke into the air above the building housing the presses.
Fire officials said the fire briefly reached a portion of the attic.
Firefighters with chainsaws and pry bars climbed to the top of the press building via a ladder truck to gain access to the roof where smoke was rising into the air.
The building was reopened about 9:45 a.m.
Bee publisher Cheryl Dell said there was no damage to the presses and the paper would publish Friday's edition as planned.
Call The Bee's Bill Lindelof, (916) 321-1079.
Photo gallery: Small fire in Bee pressroom contained
PHOTO CAPTIONS: (top) Sacramento city firefighters gather at the loading dock at The Sacramento Bee Thursday morning when a small fire in the ceiling of the press room caused an evacuation of the building. (Photo by Randy Pench/rpench@sacbee.com)
(bottom)Sacramento city firefighters climb a ladder to the roof at The Sacramento Bee Thursday morning . (Photo by Tim Reese/treese@sacbee.com)









About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.