News Reports
Basement fire in West sparks evacuation
Allison Manning
Issue date: 3/27/06
 Media Credit: Dominick Reuter |
| A firefighter extends his ladder in front of Sleeper Hall after responding to a laundry room fire in the basement of the West Campus dorm Wednesday. No one was hurt, but all three buildings were evacuated as sprinklers flooded the basement. |
According to District Five Fire Chief Joe McMahon, the fire started between two dryers due to lint buildup, causing the dryer to overheat. One sprinkler went off in the laundry room causing the basement and elevator shafts to flood.
An Office of Residence Life employee who declined to give her name announced to throngs of West Campus residents that the basement would be closed until Monday night and directed residents with laundry in the machines to check in with a Resident Assistant.
McMahon said there was some damage to the ceiling and smoke damage. Total damage was estimated at $5,000. Students said the alarm went off at about 5 p.m. at Sleeper before the other buildings were evacuated.
By 5:30 p.m., Rich residents had been let back inside, with Sleeper and Claflin Hall residents let in about 15 minutes later.
To prevent dryer fires, the Consumer Products Safety Commission suggests replacing accordion metal vents with "rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct," according to the website. Clothing that has also been exposed to flammable liquids, including gas, cooking oil and some cleaning supplies, can cause the actual clothing to ignite, the website says.
In 1998, the CPSC received reports of more than 15,500 dryer fires, causing 20 deaths