[Press Release] : False alarm forces courthouse evacuation

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Captain Eric Hartman - (573) 874-7644

False alarm forces courthouse evacuation

COLUMBIA, MO (August 27, 2008) - Columbia firefighters were called at
1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 27, to 705 East Walnut St., the Boone
County Courthouse, for a report of an automatic fire alarm activation.

Fire crews arrived and discovered the alarm was activated by
construction crews working on the courthouse renovation project. Crews
were cutting sheetrock material, which generated a large amount of dust,
activating the alarm system. The large amount of dust caused a visible
"haze" on three floors of the building. Firefighters used large electric
fans to remove the dust from the building.

There was no smoke or fire discovered in the building and there were no
injuries during the incident; however, approximately 200 people were
forced to evacuate the building while fire crews investigated the source
of the alarm. Fire crews were on scene for one hour.

Any media inquiries relating to the interruption of the Brian Dorsey
murder trial due to this incident should be directed to appropriate law
enforcement or court security authorities.

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