Friday Note: We posted this on Wednesday, but inevitably people were wondering today what all the hubbub around the courthouse was about. It is this.

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A few minutes ago, LoCO received word from readers that smoke was emanating from the top floor of the Humboldt County Jail and that emergency personnel were amassing on Fourth Street below. Ack! We hustled from our new Eureka office to the scene. 

Yes, there was smoke, but it was fake.

It seems today until noon, and then again on Friday morning, Humboldt Bay Fire and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office are conducting trainings allowing emergency crews to prepare for the unique challenges of fighting a future fire in The Big Pink. LoCO spoke briefly with Lieutenant Marco Luna who noted that it helps to know the layout of such a massive structure when attempting to work quickly to navigate the numerous locked barriers that could be between firefighters and potentially trapped inmates.

All the same, thanks again for your sharp eyes, LoCO readers. All is well.