At Tanger, employees smell smoke, but there’s no fire

A Tanger Outlet store was briefly evacuated Friday afternoon after employees smelled smoke in the building, fire officials said. Riverhead firefighters later determined it was a false alarm.

The incident began about 3:30 p.m., when the Riverhead Fire Department received a call of a structure fire at the Claire’s store in Tanger 2. Firefighters were told there was a “strong smell of smoke,” second assistant chief Kevin Brooks said at the scene. The building was evacuated as a precaution while firefighters inspected the building. Several fire engines were called to the scene to assist.

Firefighters determined the report of a fire was “unfounded,” Mr. Brooks said and by 4:15 p.m. the volunteers had left the scene and the store reopened.