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Cause of Anderson fire still not determined
By Brian Kalish on 11/5/07
The cause of a fire that charred a menu board in Anderson Hall on Sept. 29 has still not been determined and is not expected to be, said AU Public Safety Chief Michael McNair.
"There is no additional [information] from the [District of Columbia Fire Department] both as to cause or any suspects," McNair said. "I'd be surprised if they come up with a cause."
The DCFD looked into the incident and said they would come back to McNair if they had any more information, but thus far they have not, he said.
He does not expect to receive any more information. The fire was a relatively minor incident. The damage was minor, and there were no injuries, McNair said.
McNair said looking back there were "no real problems with getting people out of the building."
All the drills Public Safety officers worked on in the past prepared them for this incident, McNair said.
"In these cases, it's always good to have a good plan," he said. "[We had a] plan because we've been drilling for others."
If the university had more information to look into the incident further, they would keep the investigation going, said Matt Kesicki, a senior in the Kogod School of Business.
"It's probably just hard to do when you have so many college kids living in a building," he said.
If the university continues to look at other incidents such as drinking, they should look more into the fire, said Carolyn Benton, a senior in the School of Communication.
"Why wouldn't they?" she said.
Public Safety should not look into this incident but should look into problems with the fire alarm system, said Max Friedman, a junior in the School of Public Affairs.
"I always thought the fire alarm system was terrible," he said. "So many people would stay in their rooms during fire drills because there were so many false alarms."
Friedman, who now lives off campus, said he does not believe students will leave during future alarms.
"Not when it's four in the morning in February," he said.
Benton, who lives off campus as well, said she expects those who live in the dorms would likely have been more responsive for a few weeks after the fire but then would not respond.
"People will always be skeptical," she said. "I mean, after one fire, they will for a couple weeks be responsive, but if there are numerous amounts of fake alarms continued, then it will just go back to students not responding."
"There is no additional [information] from the [District of Columbia Fire Department] both as to cause or any suspects," McNair said. "I'd be surprised if they come up with a cause."
The DCFD looked into the incident and said they would come back to McNair if they had any more information, but thus far they have not, he said.
He does not expect to receive any more information. The fire was a relatively minor incident. The damage was minor, and there were no injuries, McNair said.
McNair said looking back there were "no real problems with getting people out of the building."
All the drills Public Safety officers worked on in the past prepared them for this incident, McNair said.
"In these cases, it's always good to have a good plan," he said. "[We had a] plan because we've been drilling for others."
If the university had more information to look into the incident further, they would keep the investigation going, said Matt Kesicki, a senior in the Kogod School of Business.
"It's probably just hard to do when you have so many college kids living in a building," he said.
If the university continues to look at other incidents such as drinking, they should look more into the fire, said Carolyn Benton, a senior in the School of Communication.
"Why wouldn't they?" she said.
Public Safety should not look into this incident but should look into problems with the fire alarm system, said Max Friedman, a junior in the School of Public Affairs.
"I always thought the fire alarm system was terrible," he said. "So many people would stay in their rooms during fire drills because there were so many false alarms."
Friedman, who now lives off campus, said he does not believe students will leave during future alarms.
"Not when it's four in the morning in February," he said.
Benton, who lives off campus as well, said she expects those who live in the dorms would likely have been more responsive for a few weeks after the fire but then would not respond.
"People will always be skeptical," she said. "I mean, after one fire, they will for a couple weeks be responsive, but if there are numerous amounts of fake alarms continued, then it will just go back to students not responding."
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