LF Wade Airport Evacuated, Gate Locked

August 26, 2012

[Updated] The gate to the LF Wade International Airport was closed as passengers and staff were evacuated from the building earlier today [Aug 26].

Taxis and private cars were stopped from accessing the airport property as the main gate was closed causing traffic to become backed up through the airport roundabout as passengers attempted to make their flights. Some people decided to abandon their rides and walk to the gate where they were stopped from entering.

Security staff on scene comforted anxious passengers explaining that a fire alarm had been activated and although access to the airport had been restricted, flights would be delayed to accommodate late arrivals.

Shortly after persons evacuated from the airport building were seen re-entering, security opened the gate to a flood of arriving passengers. The departure hall quickly filled as staff busily processed passengers to clear the long lines. The reason for the evacuation is unclear at this time, however we will update with an official statement as able.

Updated with video 4:47pm:

Update 11:19pm: A statement from the airport duty officer said, “This afternoon the fire alarm activated at the LF Wade Airport at 1:40pm. The building was evacuated and the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service responded and once the cause of the alarm was found, the all clear was given to re-enter the building. Normal operations resumed by 2:40pm. There were minimal delays to departing flights.”

Click to enlarge photos:

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Articles that link to this one:

  1. Fire Alarm Activation Was ‘Act Of Vandalism’ | Bernews.com | August 28, 2012
  1. expats pay the bills. says:

    It must have been due to a customs officer breaking winds. Codfish Sunday?

  2. Why was it not loved down when the moped rode on the Tarmac 3 weeks ago ?
    Was hushed up?

    • The All Seeing Eye says:

      cant “love down” a tarmac…and it wasnt on 3. get facts straight before posting on a forum such as this. Assumptions…assum…@$$..oops mule. you are.

    • Ronell lANDY says:

      Like all Bermudians again you have heard a small piece of a story and ran with it. First of all so you know what part of the airport is the tarmac. Stop trying to destroy our Country with your ignorance. The negative comments you make about our only Airport cause irreversible damage all over the world. Your stupid and untrue comment mow has folks digging to see if the was hushed up. Prying and poking in areas of National Security.

  3. Terry says:

    This makes no sense.
    I cannot follow this at all.

    does Bernews know why the gates were locked?
    And where are these gates.

    • Well says:

      Gates are at the entrance to the airport (as you can see in the image above?). They were installed sometime earlier this year I believe.

  4. Cedar Beams (Original) says:

    Customs gotta stop that secret shopping thing somehow.

  5. Red Alert!! says:

    There are gates at the main entrance just after the round about. Looks like a drill to me. Unknown to the public. Gauge the staff handling of the passengers.

    • The All Seeing Eye says:

      You dont know what a drill is if it hits you in the @$$. stop assuming. Dont make an @$$ out of yourself.

      • Ronell lANDY says:

        In this heat, and economy do youactually think that at time of day with full flights coming and going a DRILL would take place LIKE REALLY

  6. Unbelievable says:

    I was there when we got off the Philly flight they left us on the Tarmac in hot sun for a half hour and told us we could get back on the plane if we were hot in the sun .
    We waited for the fire service to come figure out how to shut the alarm off they went back in. All the staffwere convinced it was a hoax .

    • Family Man says:

      Welcome to Bermuda. Wait till you try our ferry service. You’ll love it.

    • The All Seeing Eye says:

      be prepared…get a magazine,newspaper, or a cup match 6 fan and put it in your “fire evac stand around kit”…fan yourself and wait until it is safe to go inside in the cool AC. you’ll get over it and it is hot everywhere you go.

  7. Family Woman says:

    The story says that a fire alarms was activated and the gates are just before the departure building.

  8. pepper says:

    On the weekend….. we have no news!!!! thank God for Bernews,they keep us informed

  9. SummerBreeze says:

    Uh, is that my relatives going on vacation without me!…

  10. smh says:

    The gates are closed because:

    There are days where somebody rings the fire alarm when there is no fire.
    It is believed that when someone bring in drugs or something, they ring the fire alarm then flee when everybody evacuates. Closing the gate ensures that nobody can escape without being checked.

    • Observer says:

      This makes a lot of sense!!

    • Too Funny.. says:

      BS….

    • Ronell lANDY says:

      I dont get Bermudians, are 90% of you actually that backward that you cant understand the concept of an international airport having gates that are closed in emergency situations.
      It is my belief that you just have to say something about nothing, use your common sense people wether it be a false alarm or an actual fire, your life becomes top priority.
      If the protocall at the LF Wade was to wait until it is found out first and move after the fire is located your a$$es would be burnt to hell or at least dropped you from the smoke.
      Bermuda act like you know even is you dont. Please stop showing your ignorance to the world.

  11. Too Funny.. says:

    Sign ‘O Da Times.. That airport is the closest Bermuda has to a Circus!!

  12. William says:

    Well,
    at least no one had to die over it.
    That’s a PLUS.

    • The All Seeing Eye says:

      couldnt say it better…two thumbs up bro!

  13. Bermuda is closed ... says:

    What more do you need to know?

  14. Ricky says:

    What are the gates for – Stop the Fire Dept from getting in – Stop people from getting out ( Would have thought that would have been a plus). I dont understand the Gate thing at all. I sure a security guard there at times like that would be sufficient. Just sayin.

    • The All Seeing Eye says:

      you dont need to understand…just do what you are told. I was waiting in line too…so suck it up.

  15. Will says:

    anybody care to check if there was a fire? alarms can trip anytime so surely its useful to check it out rather than immediately evacuate!

    • The All Seeing Eye says:

      if a fire alarm goes off in your house are you going to sit and watch Jerry Springer or are you going to evacuate? be for real…better to be safe than sorry. Checking for fire is what the fire dept does…you can too if you know what you are doing.

  16. I'm Just Sayin' says:

    It’s an international airport. There are requirements that they have to adhere to. This is one of them. So tired of bashing ourselves for something that may have been tragic. Sure, search for the fire while someone burns where you haven’t had time to search.If the evacuation had not taken place and someone was injured/killed the you all would have beef with that.

  17. Unbelievable says:

    Hate to think if something did happen there ,it would be a circus me thinks they should practice the emergency drill quite often.

  18. Nemo says:

    It was a fire arlarm 2 min. from bording the plane they evacuated us from a secure area to the parking lot SMH then we had to start all over again.