By William Tilton
The News-Herald
KIRTLAND, Ohio — The Kirtland Fire Department, with the aid of other area firefighters, was able to perform a rapid clean-up of Mooreland Mansion in order for a wedding to be held safely.
According to a Kirtland Fire Department Facebook post, on May 19 the department was dispatched to Mooreland Mansion at Lakeland Community College for a fire alarm. While en route, they received a report of black smoke coming from the building.
According to the post, Eastlake, Mentor, Willoughby and Willoughby Hills were immediately dispatched on automatic aid.
Upon arrival, the building was evacuated, and no visible smoke or fire was found. Kirtland firefighters quickly searched the structure and found water flooding the building due to an activated sprinkler head.
Firefighters noticed the evacuees were nicely dressed, and the staff at Mooreland was pretty frantic. It was soon revealed they were preparing for a wedding, the post stated.
Once it was confirmed there was no fire in the building, the department quickly shut down the sprinkler system. The activated sprinkler head in the main foyer had flooded the main staircase, second floor and reception area. Once they stopped the flow of water, Eastlake, Mentor, Willoughby and Willoughby Hills crews arrived on the scene.
According to the post, with one hour until the wedding and water still raining down from the second floor, firefighters, armed with shop vacs, squeegees, mops and towels immediately sprang into action. While firefighters were working, Kirtland Fire Department met with Lakeland Facilities management, police, Lakeland and Mooreland leadership teams.
It was agreed if the building could be made safe and the water cleaned up, the wedding would be on. Within 45 minutes, the firefighters had completed their tasks. Although a few parts of the building were off-limits, the wedding took place.
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