Flashback to the mid-1990s, when this IT contractor pilot fish is assigned to the engine plant for a major automaker — and his cubicle is right next to the computer room.

“We were working one day when the Halon alarm went off,” says fish. “Then we heard the whoosh as the Halon dumped.

“Turns out that the plant electricians were replacing all the manual-pull fire alarm boxes with a new version and, contrary to union rules, had sent out an apprentice to do the work without supervision.

“The computer room had manual pulls by both doors that somewhat resembled the regular fire alarm pulls, but there was a big sign stating that this was for the computer room Halon system. The apprentice ignored the differences and the sign, tried to replace the station and shorted it out in the process, causing the Halon dump.

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