Firefighters discuss how to handle a leaky battery in Sitka's city hall on Monday morning. (KCAW photo by Ed Ronco)

Firefighters discuss how to handle a leaky battery in Sitka’s city hall on Monday morning. (KCAW photo by Ed Ronco)

Sitka’s city hall evacuated briefly on Monday morning after a backup battery started smoking in a third-floor closet.

Assistant Fire Chief Al Stevens says battery acid was leaking out and causing the smoke. Initially, firefighters set up a fan in the main stairwell to vent the building.

But when they tried to move the battery outside, it began smoking some more, and workers were evacuated.

There were no injuries during the incident, which lasted about an hour.