Courthouse in Bel Air Briefly Evacuated for Investigation

The Harford County Circuit Court building was briefly evacuated Tuesday afternoon due to smoke in the building, officials said.

At 12:30 p.m., the Harford County Sheriff’s Office reported that it had evacuated the Circuit Court on Courtland Avenue in Bel Air.

Firefighters from Bel Air and Fallston responded to investigate, according to Rich Gardiner of the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company.

At 12:50 p.m., Gardiner reported that the source of the smoke in the courthouse had been identified. It was attributed to construction activity, he said.

Smoke from the construction got sucked into the air handlers of the building on Courtland Street, according to Gardiner. By 12:52 p.m., the sheriff’s office said the evacuation was over and people could return to the building.

Firefighters from Bel Air responded to another situation in which air handlers caused alarm, at Macy’s in Harford Mall in late February.

• Firefighters Investigate Macy’s Rooftop
• Harford District Court Evacuated for Bomb Threat
• Bel Air Adds New Heart to Collection

Pictured, the Bel Air engine prepared to supply water to the sprinklers inside the Circuit Court building. Photo Credit: Mark Ensor of Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company.

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