Burnt Easy Mac causes evacuation at Iowa Capitol

Someone at the Iowa Capitol left their lunch in the microwave a little (or a lot) too long Monday.

The emergency alarm went off shortly after 11 a.m. due to smoke coming from a microwave oven behind the Senate chamber, according to Secretary of the Senate Michael Marshall. The Capitol had to be evacuated.

The source of the smoke? Burnt Easy Mac macaroni and cheese.

The evacuation has since been lifted and lawmakers were allowed back in the building.

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However, Marshall said he hoped he would not need to send out a memo telling people to be more careful when cooking their lunch in the microwave. He said he suspected the sirens that everyone heard when the alarm was sounded would provide warning enough to prevent a repeat of the incident.

— Bill Petroski contributed to this report