Fire scare clears out state office building
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Published: September 25, 2007
Government employees and visitors cleared out of the Asa Bloomer State Office Building on Merchants Row Monday afternoon when smoke from food burning in a microwave set off fire alarms throughout the complex.
State and federal employees, as well as workers from private companies, filed out of the building in an orderly manner just before 3 p.m. when the alarms went off.
Food burning in a microwave in a kitchen area of an office suite on the fourth floor of the complex set off a smoke alarm, according to Frank Cioffi, deputy chief for the Rutland City Fire Department.
With three trucks responding, firemen arrived at offices and found, cleaned and reset the smoke detector and reset the alarm system, Cioffi said.
Some of the displaced employees left the back entrance to the building and walked to the Stewart's Shops parking lot where they waited until the evacuation ended just after 3 p.m. and they returned to their offices.
More than 100 people are employed at the complex, officials said.
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