Yankees’ ballpark fire scare brings back deadly college memory

TAMPA, Fla. — Yankees manager Aaron Boone was so deep in thought during his post-game interview Friday night that he ignored a fire alarm sounding and a red flashing light directly in his sightline. Sitting at a podium in the team meeting room at Steinbrenner Field after a 3-1 victory over the Orioles, Boone also talked over a computer-generated message blaring from a speaker: Can I have your attention please.

There has been a fire emergency reported in the building. Please evacuate to the nearest exit. With about a dozen reporters facing Boone in the first two rows of seats, he went on for another 40 seconds answering a question about outfielder Jasson Dominguez ’s Friday demotion to Triple-A before stopping.

The computer message started up again: Can I have your attention please … “Is there a fire? ” I asked. No, we found out a few minutes later, but no one knew what was going on at the time.

The interview abruptly ended. Then while Boone, reporters and media relations staffers were exiting the clubhouse-level room, a stadium security official appeared and issued a three-word order: “Evacuate the building. ” Not smelling any smoke, I asked if we could head up to the third floor so we could get our laptops.