The sprinklers on the Anderson 5 North bridge hallway were activated without an apparent cause last night, flooding much of the floor and forcing some residents to find alternate sleeping spaces.
The sprinklers went off around 12:10 a.m. Tuesday, triggering the fire alarms in Anderson and Letts Halls. Residents of both residence halls evacuated when the fire alarm went off, and were allowed to return around 12:30 a.m.
When the residents of the Anderson 5 North bridge returned to their floor, the bridge doors were closed and two representatives from Housing and Dining Programs told residents to go to the Anderson 5 North lounge for the time being.
An Anderson Hall resident assistant, who declined to give her name, told the residents that she and her fellow RAs had gone through the rooms with Metropolitan Police Department officers, who had just arrived on the scene, to unplug all electronic devices. They had also moved large objects like guitars off of the residents’ floors.
Residents of the Anderson 5 North bridge were told to make other sleeping arrangements for the night—they could either sleep in a friend’s room or take one of the beds being temporarily provided by the university.
The female RA said Housing and Dining is treating this unexpected sprinkler activation as a “freak accident.” The RA also said that, according to the housing license agreement, Housing and Dining is not responsible for any damages to students’ valuables that were in their rooms at the time of the incident. Students may be liable for floor damage fees, unless they have renters insurance through a homeowner policy.
A Public Safety official then arrived at the Anderson 5 North lounge and said the residents should not hesitate to contact Public Safety if they “saw or heard anything before or immediately after the pipe burst.”
Students and RAs described a sulfur-like smell emanating from the bridge.
Calls to Housing and Dining have not yet been returned.
Check back for more information as this story develops.
—JULIA RYAN and STEFANIE DAZIO
3 Comments
Find Those Responsible
February 24, 2010 at 5:10 PM
I can hardly bear to even think that this was an “accident”; it wasn’t. Two irresponsible, immature, selfish pricks purposely broke the pipe and now 20 residents have to deal with the consequences while those responsible hide like cowards. It is in all of our best interests to bring these two jerks to justice.
resident
February 25, 2010 at 2:10 PM
This article is full of false and inaccurate information. As a resident on this floor it was NOT a “freak accident” someone intentionally pulled the sprinkler. Get the facts straight before you publish please.
resident
February 27, 2010 at 3:20 PM
Housing and Dinning cannot charge students for a freak accident and they further should pay in part for damages to personal items. Whatever it says in the contract, that would be common decency.
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