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Burned mac and cheese causes evacuation of Iowa Capitol

Apr. 27, 2015 1:03 pm
DES MOINES - A burned bowl of macaroni and cheese caused an evacuation of the Iowa Capitol on Monday morning.
At roughly 11 a.m., Capitol alarms sounded, instructing all inside to evacuate the building.
As the alarms continued, a thick smoke stench filled the area behind the Senate chamber.
Senators and staff said the culprit was a burned bowl of microwaveable macaroni and cheese.
After roughly 5 minutes, the alarms ceased and people were allowed back in the building.
The state Department of Administrative Services confirmed it was a burned bowl of microwaveable macaroni and cheese that set off the alarms and caused the evacuation, although it could not confirm which microwave.
A burned bowl of microwaveable macaroni and cheese, provided by Iowa Senators, and the alleged culprit that set off smoke alarms causing an evacuation of the Capitol on Monday morning in Des Moines. (Erin Murphy/Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau)