Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 10/30/07

BY ERIK LARSEN

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OCEAN TOWNSHIP — All municipal business has been suspended until about 1:30 p.m. at the municipal complex, after the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system "backfired'' during a routine servicing this morning, spewing smoke and causing an odor associated with natural gas.

The building was evacuated after an internal fire alarm sounded throughout the complex at 10:16 a.m.

An Asbury Park Press reporter, photographer and a television crew from News 12 New Jersey were conducting an interview with Police Chief Antonio V. Amodio Jr. in his office at police headquarters when a boom-like noise was heard.

A short time later, the alarm sounded and Amodio ordered an evacuation. All municipal personnel staff and members of the public who had business waited in the parking lot and outside the building for about 45 minutes before police announced the complex would be shut down for several hours.

There were no injuries, Amodio said.