The Homecoming Dance on Oct. 16 featured two things it had not in the past–a much higher attendance and a fire alarm which caused students to be evacuated.

Principal John Shaughnessy said in an email to parents, “[The dance] was interrupted by the fire alarm as a result of the fog machine from the DJ.”

All students were evacuated for approximately 20 minutes while the Metro West Fire Department cleared the excessive smoke.

“[The situation] was pretty straight forward,” Activities Director Steve Berry said.

As her senior year Homecoming Dance, Allex Oelkers said, “I think it made it a lot more memorable.”

Due to the evacuation, the dance was extended for an extra 15 minutes to make up for the time lost while the alarms were sounding.

“It was unfortunate that the fire alarm went off, but the kids handled it well, and we extended the dance to make up for any lost enjoyment,” Student Council sponsor David Choate said.

On whether or not there will be a fog machine at next year’s dance, Berry said, “We won’t have a smoke machine next year. Not if it’s going to have a chance of setting the alarms off [again].”