FRESNO (KMJ) — Fresno Fire reveal that the mass evacuation of Fresno County Courthouse, initially reported as a false alarm, may have been set off by smoke from a series of brush and grass fires alongside Highway 99.
It prompted the approximately 500 people inside to leave the building Tuesday morning, while crews investigated the cause.
“The maintenance crew were working on part of the system”, says Fresno County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Richard Wilhoitt. “They thought that they had it bypassed and inevitably the alarm went off.
“It was a glitch, yes”.
The area was checked, the building was determined to be safe, and court business has since resumed.
“It was our morning rush hour, and we basically had the whole courthouse staffed so…busy morning”.
Fresno Fire add that the smoke, which they state was responsible for this false alarm, also set off numerous other commercial fire alarms also in the area. You can read more about that story clicking here.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
