Liz DeRuggiero, working the checkout desk, was the first to smell something noxious. And then Children’s Librarian Annmarie McAnany responded quickly, politely clearing patrons from the building.

Just as the Sloatsburg Fire Department was gathering for its regular Wednesday evening meeting at the station house, the call came in from across the street — fire at the Sloatsburg Public Library. Engines geared up and personnel promptly dispatched to the scene. When they arrived though, what they discovered was a malfunctioning exit sign that caused a lot of smell but very little damage. The rapid response by library staff and the fire department itself minimized any additional problem.

Fire Chief Nello Vacchiano conferred with Library Director Mary Blake and Library Board President Jane Thompson, who were also at the scene. Chief Vacchiano determined that the wiring defect was limited to the one suspect exit light. The library electrician arrived shortly to inspect the wiring as well.

Lighting and wiring upgrades have been recent topics of  library board meetings. Wednesday’s small exit sign flare-up focuses attention on accelerating the upgrades.

And then just as suddenly the fire trucks disappeared, the evening’s emergency addressed. With the sky darkening, the library settled back into routine. Patrons began circulating, library staff shut off lights in the cathederal-ceiling section of the building — as precaution — opened the front door for fresh air, and the cool night washed in. One patron even waved off any suggestions of help as he made his way into the darkened room to search the shelves for a particular book of fiction.