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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) No flames were visible, but the smell of smoke was in the air as firefighters investigated the source of where the smoke was emanating from inside a building in downtown Valley City.

Fire Chief Gary Retterath says it took fire fighters a long time to locate the source, a ventilation fan under the roof. He says residents and pets were safely evacuated from the building.

Retterath says crews damaged part of the roof to locate the ventilation fan so an electrician could disconnect the smoking fan.

He says the Red Cross assisted residents dislocated due to the smell of smoke or damage to the roof caused by the fire. He says no flames or smoke was visible during their investigation.

Crews responded to the fire call at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and 2nd Street northwest in Valley City about 2:40pm August 13.