The Emerald Square Mall in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, reopened Monday after it was shut down by fire officials on Sunday due to extensive water leaks damaged the building’s electrical systems.
The North Attleboro Fire Department said it responded to the mall at 999 South Washington St. at 1:30 p.m. Sunday after receiving a notification of a fire alarm activation. When they arrived, the found that the alarm had been activated by water leaking through a detector.
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During their investigation, firefighters found several areas throughout the mall where water was leaking from the roof, affecting lighting fixtures and the men's and women's restrooms on the third floor. With the assistance of an electrical inspector, they were able to isolate power in several locations. A health inspector also responded to the scene and the building inspector was notified.
The water leaks are believed to have been caused by Sunday's snow, ice and rain storm, as there was significant snow and ice accumulation on the roof.
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As a precaution, the fire department decided to temporarily close the mall to the public while management works to address the leaks.
Fire department representatives met with local inspectors and mall management Monday morning to conduct a walk through of the mall and determined that it was safe to reopen. Mall management presented several mitigation measures to town officials and outlined future plans to address water leaks.
The 3-floor, 1 million square foot property includes over 100 stores and restaurants, including two Macy's stores and a JCPenney.
