During B lunch, Langley students were interrupted by the now familiar sound of a blaring fire alarm. “It was pulled [by someone],” said Langley Safety and Security Specialist Mr. Mark Rogers. Although the alarm usually goes off during third block, this is not the first time student’s lunches have been interrupted.

Langley Assistant Principal Jessica Statz said that setting off a fire alarm without a legitimate cause is a “suspendable offense,” adding that students can be recommended for expulsion if the administration chooses to do so. Contrary to popular belief, a person is not sprayed with a dye when they pull the alarm. Mr. Rogers said that a “light purple powder” is released, covering the hands of the culprit. An email was sent out to teachers immediately following the false alarm, asking them to be checking students’ hands for purple powder.

Pulling the fire alarm can also result in legal consequences outside of school. According to the Code of Virginia, anyone who “maliciously activates a manual or automatic fire alarm” can be charged with a Class 1 Misdemeanor, which can result in up to 12 months in Virginia jail or a $2500 fine.

The person who pulled the alarm has yet to be identified.