Smoke Alarm at Porn Convention Gives Firefighters an Eyeful

The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, playing host to the eXXXotica Love and Sex Expo this weekend, was evacuated Saturday around noon for a fire alarm. The alarm forced adult film stars, attendees and vendors to leave the premises for a bit as the Rosemont Fire Department came on the scene, but the expo resumed about an hour later.

eXXXotica Expo’s Twitter account blamed the emergency on the hot floor show.

A small rooftop fire was reportedly extinguished.

About 18,000 people are expected to attend the three-day event, which began on Friday. Well-known adult film stars Tera Patrick, Ron Jeremy and Belle Knox are at the show meeting attendees. The show features several seminars and panels on the adult film and sex industry, such as Fifty Shades of Kink, Swinging 101 and The World According to Ron Jeremy.

Themed after-hours parties take place at the Hyatt Regency.

Dan Adams, spokesman for the show, told the Chicago Tribune this is one of eXXXotica’s most popular shows.

“(Chicago is) one of our strongest markets,” Adams said, noting that doctors, lawyers, tradesmen and others show up for the entertainment. “The adult industry is no longer just for behind closed doors....it’s definitely moved into the mainstream

The show ends Sunday.

» ALSO ON PATCH: Rachel Bernard, of Oswego, aka Ava Taylor, who appeared in “Hot Girls Wanted,” talks about life in and after porn.