A smoke alarm detected steam and was activated in an area of the stadium used to prepare food for the first time as part of WKU's enhanced gameday food options. Police and fire responders immediately recognized it as a non-emergency situation. By federal law and design of the system, once the recorded alarm is activated it silences all public address communications.
The press box public address announcer, the on-field public address announcer and the head referee all had their communications systems locked off. After quick confirmation that we were in a non-emergency situation, it was communicated to the head referee that play could continue at his discretion, and he then notified both teams that play would continue. Television microphones picked up his communication. However, because his public microphone was silenced no one in the stadium could hear this.
Moving forward, WKU is enhancing its safety measures by:
At no time during the incident was anyone in the stadium in danger.
