Court proceedings were interrupted briefly on Tuesday afternoon when smoke from a small electrical problem prompted officials to evacuate the Dakota County Judicial Center in Hastings.
A space heater in a second-floor office was not in use but still plugged in, which, officials said, apparently caused wiring to arc and smolder. There was no fire and no damage.
The smoke had filled a room in the First Judicial District offices, and that was being ventilated Tuesday afternoon.
Risk management officials were checking into why alarms didn't sound, officials said.
The Hastings Fire Department sounded the all-clear about 3 p.m.
JOY POWELL
