A magistrates' court had to be evacuated after a small fire broke out inside a lift in the building.
Defendants, solicitors, magistrates and court staff had to leave North Tyneside Magistrates' Court in North Shields after the alarm was raised on Monday afternoon.
Firefighters from Tynemouth station were called just before 12.10pm to the building on Tynemouth Road.
When they arrived, crews found that a light fitting in a lift had caused a small fire.
One person was treated at the scene by paramedics for smoke inhalation but no further treatment was required.
Fire crews then left at 12.32pm after making sure the fire was extinguished.
Afternoon court hearings were due to go ahead as usual at 2pm.
