If they shouted fire, would anything more happen?

We’ve heard of debates getting heated, but enough to set off the

buildings’ fire alarm?

Thursday night during the Costa Mesa City Council candidate forum,

hosted by Mesa Verde Community Inc. homeowners’ assn., the shrill

bells of the fire alarm interrupted the otherwise brilliant answer of

one of the aspiring politicians.

Hundreds of audience members looked around curiously, obviously

pondering whether they should drop their plates full of catered

goodies and file out in an orderly fashion or proceed with the

business of narrowing down their choices for city leadership.

Ultimately they chose the latter, betting that the danger signal

was a misfire absent the presence of smoke or screams. Their

assumption proved to be correct. Everyone, including esteemed guests

such as Councilman Chris Steel, former mayor Sandra Genis and former

Daily Pilot columnist Byron de Arakal (that’s Mr. 103 to you),

refocused their attentions to the words of wisdom being shared from

the podium.

A member of the centers’ custodial staff reported that an “older

gentlemen in a leisure suit” had accidentally pulled the fire alarm.

Sound like anyone we know?