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The local library has been hit with a series of unfortunate events.

Not the Lemony Snicket brand of mishaps, but a water line causing a chain reaction of incidents that prompted the fire marshal to close the library on Poplar Avenue.

Victor Cantillo, administrator and CFO of West Long Branch, said a water line broke in the boiler room of the building early Wednesday afternoon. The water line break damaged the electrical system, which sparked a fire in the old municipal building that's connected to the library through the boiler room.

The fire was contained to the old municipal building, which is vacant, Cantillo said. Nonetheless, library staff and patrons were evacuated.

In addition to the water and electrical damage, the fire marshal determined that the library's fire alarm system wasn't working. The library, which is a branch of the Monmouth County Library, was ordered to remain closed until repairs to the water, electrical and alarm systems are made.

Cantillo said he doesn't know how long the repairs could take. Safety is their top concern.

“The municipality is doing everything it can to get the facility open as soon as possible,” he said.

The municipal building where the fire broke out was originally scheduled to be demolished years ago. Cantillo said the demolition has been delayed because the building tested positive for asbestos. The borough had to bring in a contractor for asbestos remediation.

The cleanup was completed over the summer, Cantillo said. The engineer working on the demolition was in the process of updating the plans when the fire happened.

In a stroke of luck, though, the borough was able to acquire emergency funds for repairs the day the library closed. The borough council and mayor had a council meeting Wednesday night and approved an emergency appropriation.

The appropriation grants the municipality up to $100,000 outside of the 2014 budget for the repairs.

“It was fortuitous that the governing body meeting was that night,” Cantillo said.

Cantillo said he doesn't know how much the repairs will cost, but that he suggested $100,000 to prevent coming up short on repair funds. The cost is supposed to be included in the 2015 budget.

Steph Solis: 732-643-4043; ssolis@app.com; @stephmsolis

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