AUGUSTA — Dust from construction inside the state Capitol led firefighters investigating a report of smoke to clear the building this morning.

The report was made shortly before noon. Workers were let back into the building by approximately 12:15 after investigators found no fire inside the Capitol.

Augusta fire officials said it was a false alarm, set off by dust stirred up by construction workers installing Sheetrock in the building.

The alarm went off just before noon and emergency vehicles arrived about two minutes afterwards. Gov. John Baldacci, who was inside the building at the time, evacuated the Capitol and walked over to the Blaine House for the duration of the incident.


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