KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Several downtown businesses remained closed Wednesday after a sprinkler malfunction in an electrical room at 82 Main St. forced utilities to shut off power and gas to the building Tuesday evening.

According to the Keene Fire Department, crews responded at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday after a sprinkler head discharged inside the building’s electrical room. Lt. Meghan Manke-Moody said in an email the most likely cause was a mechanical failure in the sprinkler head.

The building houses several businesses, including Kilkenny Pub, Madame Sherri’s, Local Burger, The Perch, Kurama Omakase, Red House Irons and J Alexis Braiding Studio.

Patrick Brown, co-owner of Madame Sherri’s, said the sprinkler sprayed water onto the building’s main electrical panels, which serve all of the businesses in the complex.

“All the mains are in that one room,” Brown said. “It soaked them all.”

Brown said the electrical room is located behind Kilkenny Pub.

Because the electrical panels were wet, Eversource and the gas company were called in to shut down power and gas service to the entire building while the damage is assessed and repairs are made.

David Barrett, owner of Kilkenny Pub, said in an email restoration crews from Servpro worked at the scene Tuesday night and continued remediation efforts Wednesday while electricians and fire officials evaluated the damage.

“The whole building’s power was shut off by Eversource last night, and is probably off until hopefully tomorrow,” Barrett said.

Brown said the incident caused significant disruption for businesses that were open at the time.

 “Everyone was scrambling to find places for food,” he said.

Madame Sherri’s staff moved food inventory to the nearby Monadnock Food Co-op to prevent spoilage, while Local Burger reportedly transferred inventory to another downtown restaurant.

Madame Sherri’s experienced more limited flooding, though some groceries were destroyed and water entered a dressing room area containing costumes and supplies.

Business owners said insurance claims are expected to be filed as cleanup and repairs continue.

Madame Sherri’s described the situation as being “in survival mode” while awaiting restoration of utilities.