Faulty light fixture, smoke prompts evacuation of Cloverdale businesses

An electrical malfunction and subsequent smoke led to the temporary closure of a half-dozen businesses in Cloverdale on Friday afternoon before the possibility of fire was dismissed.

The culprit was a malfunctioning fuse on a power pole in the 1100 block of South Cloverdale Boulevard, Cloverdale Fire Battalion Chief Justin McNulty said.

Originally a smell of smoke was reported at Starbucks around 3 p.m., leading to an evacuation of the building. About 20 minutes later, light smoke was observed in the adjacent former KFC restaurant, McNulty said.

He said the source of the smoke turned out to be a fluorescent light fixture inside KFC.

Neighboring Healdsburg and Geyserville fire departments were dispatched briefly before being called back.

Power was disrupted to a block of businesses that included the Shell service station, 101 Thai Way restaurant, Quick and Easy and MGM Brake, according to McNulty.