During a scheduled test of the upgraded lahar warning system, everything was silent.

The sirens which are meant to alert people in case of a volcanic mudslide did not go off as intended.

Pierce County officials in the process of determining the cause of the failed test.

During the test at 10 a.m. today, the electronic status board indicated the system worked, but there was no sound from the sirens.

“We’re working with the vendor to find out where the issue is, and to get it corrected immediately,” said Steve Bailey, director of the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management. “Preliminary testing over the past couple of months indicated no problems with the system. This is the very reason we conduct these tests.”