A fire scare at the main building of the Governmental Center caused an adrenalin rush and brought work at key departments of the county government to a grinding halt Thursday afternoon.
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| Commissioner President Jack Russell (left) with staff, outside the Governmental Center |
The Governor Martin O’Malley appointed Alcohol Beverage Board was in session when loud buzzers went off inside the building, forcing officials who had just returned from their lunch break to exit the building by the closest doors.
Commissioner President Jack Russell (D. St. George Island) was among those who left the building in haste seeking safety in the sprawling lawns, behind the building. Russell was seen in shorts, with a bright red Hawaiian shirt. Russell felt discomforted at the interruption.
“I don’t know. I wasn’t here,” County Administrator John Savich told this correspondent. But Delores Lacey, who works for the public information office, said a malfunctioning faucet of a water cooler had set the alarms off. “It was on the second floor,” Lacey said.
Heads of departments who were seen rushing out of the building included Finance Director Elaine Kramer, County Attorney Christy Chesser and Human Resource Director Sue Sabo.
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| County employees bustle out of the building during the fire alarm |
In addition to the commissioners’ offices, the building also houses the crucial technology department, law department, finance department, human resources, public information office and economic and community development departments.
People watching the Alcohol Beverage Board meeting at their homes could see people scurrying out of the room and also hear the fire alarm.
Tom Sacks, former D.C. police captain, who was chairing the Alcohol Beverage Board meeting in the absence of Charles Miedzinski, described the fire scare as a small drill, when the beverage board resumed its meeting.
After Russell and the county officials stayed on the lawn for nearly 20 minutes, the building was declared safe and everyone returned.
