Panida Theater passes inspections after electrical concerns

By Ben Olson
Reader Staff

The Panida Board of Directors announced the historic theater and adjacent Little Theater both passed recent electrical inspections and declared the building safe for patrons, volunteers and staff.

“The process began with an inspection by the state of Idaho DOPL Electrical Inspection Department, covering both the Little Theater and the Main Theater,” the board wrote in a news release. “The Little Theater was cleared with no issues found. In the main theater, the inspection team identified several items requiring correction. These corrections were typical for a building nearly 100 years old and were not life-safety related. All corrections were completed by an independent third-party electrical contractor, and a final inspection by the state of Idaho on July 7 confirmed the work was complete.”

The board also stated the Panida had a full electrical infrared inspection performed, which detects overheating in electrical equipment. One issue was identified in the Little Theater and corrected the same day of the inspection.

In addition to the electrical inspections, OSHA was notified anonymously about the situation and conducted its own independent audit. The board announced that the OSHA case was closed with no findings on July 13.

“We’re grateful for the diligence of everyone involved in ensuring Panida safety,” the board wrote. “Please feel free to reach out to the board with any further questions, and rest assured that the theater remains a safe space for everyone. We hope you will join us for one of our many upcoming events!”