At 05:25 hrs, Alert Fire Co. was dispatched on a still alarm to 100 Portland Avenue for activated alarms. Upon their arrival and entrance into the building they were met by a mild smoke condition. The call was upgraded to a general alarm which brought an additional two engines and the RESCUE to the scene. Deputy Chief Gomez (DC2) had command of the scene.

After stretching a thief and 1 ½ attack line into the building as a precaution, they searched the building and traced the source of the smoke to the basement. A ballast had gone bad in a ceiling light fixture. The building was vented of the smoke and the electrical hazard was removed. Units operated on scene for 60 minutes.