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Smoke leads to computer lab evacuation By
Samantha Nicholas Acrid smoke billowing from the computer lab on the third floor of the Animal Science Building gave students and faculty quite a scare Thursday morning. Bryan Seeley, a senior PR student, was working in the lab with another student at about 10:45 a.m. Seeley said there had been a strong,unpleasant smell for at least an hour when he decided to report it to Assistant Professor Nancy Williams, whose office is two doors down. Williams went to the lab and noticed the unusual odor. "It was not a smoky smell," said Williams. "It smelled more like paint." Seeley then proceeded to the main office and reported it to Senior Secretary Rhonda Hill, who notified the building's custodian, William Primmer. By the time Seeley returned to the lab, one of the hanging fluorescent light fixtures was smoking and the lights were flickering. "It looked like someone had thrown a grenade up into the light," Seeley said. Williams immediately turned off the lights and advised students to gather their belongings and leave. Once the students were safely out, she shut the door to contain the smoke. "If it had gone on five more minutes, it would have ignited," Williams said. Primmer examined the lighting fixture and determined it was caused by a ballast, which acts as the transformer for fluorescent lighting. Primmer notified the physical plant and an electrician was sent over to correct the problem. Primmer said that all fluorescent lights use ballasts, and smoke and unpleasant odor typically occur when they get old and need to be replaced. Williams was extremely concerned by the event because the smoke alarm in the hallway outside the lab never went off. The alarm in the hallway is the only alarm in that section of the building. Last week, the entire building was evacuated for 15 minutes during what turned out to be a false alarm. Primmer said after the alarm last week, the fire marshal inspected the building and determined it was caused by workers who were replacing carpeting. During the replacement, wires were moved which set off the alarm. Primmer said the smoke caused by the fluorescent lights were insufficient to set the alarm off. "Now we have a dangerous situation, and nothing happened," said Williams. "This is an old building and it needs renovation desperately." The Animal Science Building is one of the oldest buildings on campus, and according to Primmer, the only one on the Quad that has not been renovated. He believes it dates to the early 20th century.
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