The Sacramento Fire Department has responded to 17 false alarms on campus since the beginning of the fall semester, the most recent in Placer Hall on Oct. 29.

“We just stood out there and waited until the fire department came and told us what to do,” said Mary Bradley, geology department secretary. “There have been at least three fire alarms this semester in Placer Hall.”

According to the fire and flood policy on the Sacramento State Web site there is no specific action required during a fire alarm unless flames or smoke are visible. It does state that no one should return to an evacuated building until instructed to do so by University Police or the Sacramento Fire Department.

Captain Niko King of the Sacramento Fire Department said there were eight false alarms in August, five in September and four in October.

He noted that there are several ways to trip fire alarms on campus besides pulling one of the wall-mounted fire alarms.

“One time some construction workers set off a smoke detector at Sac State, and I know that some kids opened a door in the dorms that was a fire escape only,” King said.

King said that some pull stations have been tampered with in the university halls, and that stray balloons that floated up to the ceiling in the University Union have been known to summon the fire department.

“The fire detectors at Sac State are infrared and they work like lasers, in that, if something like a balloon gets in the way, the alarm will go off,” King said.

Kelly Clark, University Police public information officer, said that the University Police respond whenever they see an alarm.

“I can tell you we periodically receive false alarms,” Clark said. “The number doesn’t surprise me.”

The penalty for intentionally causing a false alarm is steep.

King said those found guilty of the offense may be held liable for the cost of any lost business and for any injuries incurred during that alarm.