THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 9, 1997 TAG: 9701090375
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: 23 lines
A small transformer fire knocked out power Wednesday night at the Richmond Coliseum, forcing authorities to evacuate several thousand people attending a concert.
The fire was reported at 7:32 p.m. About 5,000 people were attending the concert, said Ollie Harper, general manager of the Coliseum.
Several people were administered oxygen outside the sprawling downtown facility, and some were taken away by ambulance.
Paul Barr, a spokesman at the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals a few blocks from the Coliseum, said several patients were brought in suffering from smoke inhalation. Seven people were taken to MCV, all in stable condition, and 10 were treated at the scene, said Jerry Overton, executive director of the Richmond Ambulance Authority.
KEYWORDS: FIRE