Black Friday at the Providence Place Mall took a turn for the unexpected when shoppers and employees were forced to evacuate the building due to a fire alarm. As reported by WPRI, Battalion Chief Douglas Degnan identified the cause as a switch in the sprinkler system which was mistakenly activated, though no fire was present.

Adding to the interruption of one of the busiest shopping days of the year, Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez indicated that a busted water pipe was also to blame. The information, obtained by NBC10 Boston affiliate WJAR, described over 100 individuals standing outside in the cold on Francis Street, enduring the inconvenience for over 30 minutes.

Earlier reports had highlighted the Black Friday fervor, with considerable anticipation for deals drawing in hordes of shoppers. “We were in standstill traffic for a very long time," Julia Beauchamp told WJAR, underlining the chaos spawned not just within the mall's walls, but extending to the realm of parking as well.

Amidst the commercial bustle and the unexpected evacuation, a moment of global consciousness surfaced. A solidarity march for Palestinian rights marched its way to the mall from Kennedy Plaza, as detailed by WJAR. Security and police officers were present, ensuring both the protest and the Black Friday shopping could coexist without incident. “It was like really crowded and a lot of things were sold out," shopper Mila Rockedal shared, capturing the intensity of the hunt for Black Friday deals on what proved to be an eventful evening.

Post-evacuation, normalcy seemed to have been restored at the shopping center. “I got my winter coat and my holiday shoes so I’m ready to go," Jessica Diaz expressed to WJAR, reflecting the resilient spirit of shoppers who, despite the unforeseen disruption, managed to claim their sought-after items.