'Smoke' at Columbia Movie Theater Draws Firefighters, Officials Say

COLUMBIA, MD — Firefighters were called to The Mall in Columbia Tuesday afternoon for a report of smoke in a theater, officials said.

After 5 p.m., the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services had traced the source to a fire extinguisher that authorities said was "maliciously discharged," and crews were ventilating the theater.

The situation was not expected to disrupt operations significantly at the AMC Columbia 14, located in the 10300 block of Little Patuxent Parkway.

Fire and rescue personnel said the plan was to turn the scene over to the Howard County Police Department for further investigation once ventilation was complete.

Patch File Photo.