[VIDEO] Johnston Rec Office Shut Down After Fire; Staff Relocated

An electrical fire that broke out early Saturday morning at the Johnston Recreation Department office led local officials to shut down the building — and to move the rec department's staffers to the Johnston Municipal Court.

Mayor Joseph Polisena issued a statement on Tuesday morning, Oct. 9, saying the office "will be closed indefinitely" after Building Inspector Ben Nascenzi ordered it condemned and demolished.

No injuries were reported following the fire.

[See the accompanying video, running time 2:03, for scenes from inside the rec office and interviews with local officials.]

The move of the recreation staff to the municipal court follows this spring's relocation of the courthouse staff to the recreation office at Memorial Park while construction work on the lower-level offices at the courthouse was completed.

School facilities workers were at the site Tuesday morning, finishing the electrical and computer network installations needed for the offices to be ready.

Polisena and Recreation Director Dan Mazzulla said they expected the new rec department offices to be ready on Thursday.

Parking will be available in the upper lot of the Municipal Court from 8 am to 2:30 pm, and in the rear lot of nearby Ferri Middle School beginning at 2:30 pm.

Mazzulla noted that Wednesdays are the busiest days at the court, so residents should plan to make their visits on other days, if possible.