Otakon 2010, the gigantic anime and Asian pop-culture convention going on in Baltimore, was completely cleared out around 2 p.m. local time by a fire alarm. Authorities report no incidents but the Baltimore Convention Center was evacuated.
The attendees had to leave the building for about an hour while the fire marshal certified the premises were safe. One panel continued in a hotel lobby nearby, but some had to be rescheduled after the convention began letting attendees back in at 3 p.m. Otakon extended the operating hours for a couple of functions on Saturday.
An Otakon 2010 organizer told Anime News Network that someone pulled a fire alarm, stressing that there was no fire at all.
Otakon's Convention Center Evacuated Due to Fire Alarm [Anime News Network, thanks Alberto. Image from ANN.]