In between fire investigations, ribbon cuttings, Fire Preparedness talks and stand-byes, Le Mars Fire Rescue responded to two calls Thursday.
Le Mars Fire-Rescue Department responded to a fire alarm at 3:15 p.m. Thursday, at the Plymouth County Courthouse. Fire engines guarded the entrance to the courthouse as firefighters rushed into the building to find the cause of the alarm. An alarm had been triggered for the second and third floor lobby areas and the elevator. Upon arrival at the scene, firefighters found the courthouse was evacuated. The evacuated employees had crowded near the courthouse annex and were talking among themselves. Several employees said they were unsure of the cause of the alarm, and they wished the weather was warmer. "We searched the building. We found a detector that was activated in the top of the elevator shaft," said David Schipper, Le Mars Fire-Rescue Chief. However, firefighters did not find smoke or fire. "The only thing we can reason is it's dirty," Schipper said. The alarm was reset and people were allowed back into the building. According to Schipper, a company was contacted to change the alarm in question Thursday night. At 3:46 p.m., while they were at the courthouse, Le Mars Fire-Rescue received a call at the Le Mars Community Middle School to respond to a fire alarm. Upon arrival, the school had already been evacuated, Schipper said.