AUGUSTA (AP) – Testimony on Maine’s contentious gay marriage bill had to be temporarily halted when a fire alarm sounded at the Augusta Civic Center.

The Kennebec Journal said a few hundred people were still at the hearing and speaking on both sides of the issue when the building was cleared at 5:18 p.m. Wednesday.

Augusta police said burnt popcorn set off the alarm.

The hearing before the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee later resumed and continued into the evening.