City tells workers: Pop corn cautiously — or else

Microwave popcorn, that ubiquitous workplace snack, could go the way of the typewriter at Seattle City Hall.

Gone.

It seems burned popcorn has caused several evacuations at City Hall and other city buildings, prompting the city's Fleets and Facilities Department to warn of a possible ban -- if behavior doesn't improve.

"We continue to see a high number of instances of employees burning microwave popcorn and triggering the building smoke alarms," the agency said in a memo to employees in three downtown buildings where the evacuations have occurred. "This is a serious issue which requires Fire Department emergency response, building evacuation and resetting of building systems."

There have been popcorn-related evacuations at City Hall and the Seattle Municipal Tower. And last month, the 11-story Justice Center was evacuated because of burned popcorn -- the eighth time in less than three years that 400 people have been ushered out of the building.

Each evacuation lasts at least a half-hour, said Pedro Vasquez, facilities operations director with Fleets and Facilities. Marty McOmber, spokesman for Mayor Greg Nickels, said the city isn't ready for a ban quite yet.

"We've had some issues," he said. "If this continues, we'll have to look at that. It's been pretty disruptive."

Vasquez said the memo is considered more as education than admonishment.

"We're so far away from a physical ban," he said. "But this is an issue that is causing a real impact to us. It's definitely an option down the road if things don't improve."

In the memo, Fleets and Facilities advises employees: "Please read and follow package instructions. Stay by the microwave and listen to the pop, to know when to stop."

Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com