Fire trucks were called to Canadian Blood Services at about 1 p.m. on Thursday, but before firefighters tapped into any water veins, the situation was concluded.
"Everything turned out fine, we just had smoke coming from a faulty ballast in a light fixture," said Tamara Sweet, community development co-ordinator for the Prince George branch of Canadian Blood Services.
Sweet, nursing staff, volunteers and some of the day's donors were evacuated to the parking lot.
The commercial building also contains the Salvation Army Thrift Store, Tribotec, Pentland's Prosthetics, the Prince George Crisis Pregnancy Centre, the German Consul's office, and is immediately adjacent to Arby's Restaurant. Not only were all these locations spared any damage, but not a single drop of blood was spilled.
"Thankfully, no one was in the process of giving blood when it all happened. No donations had to be stopped," said Sweet.
All donors were either finished or about to start.
"We would have had to stop the donation, had there been anyone in that position," she said. "We wouldn't make them finish the donation, obviously, we can stop the donation at any time. We would not have been able to resume that donation, though, so that donation would have been lost. So that is why we are so thankful that no one was in that situation."
There is a slow period happening at the Prince George clinic, said Sweet, and she urged the public to come help meet the weekly targets they are behind on.
There is a particular need for O-negative and A-negative blood, but almost anyone can hook up with Canadian Blood Services and help several people in medical need by giving a small amount of blood.
To make a donation appointment call 1-888-2-DONATE (1-888-236-6283) or drop by their clinic at 2277 Westwood Drive.
