Bread puts spotlight on fire alarm system

By Nicole Donner

A piece of bread in a microwave caused a campus evacuation Monday on the first day of classes. Staff is looking at the emergency to better prepare for future fires.

The alarm was set off by a smoke detector located in the staff lunch room above the Learning Resource Center from a piece of bread drenched in olive oil being heated in a microwave by Sharon Jackson, library technical services coordinator, and Patty Allen, library technical assistant. According to public safety’s incident report, the bread “started smoking and spontaneously combusted.”

When public safety officers responded to the call, the bread had been put into a nearby trash can and the fire was out.

Gresham Fire Department was contacted and visited the school when students were continuing to file out into the parking lots. Though the school re-contacted the department to let them know the situation was contained, the truck failed to receive the notice and pulled into the school, according to Karen Reynolds, enviromental, health and safety officer.

Several students taking part in the “Welcome Week” activities in the Main Mall remained unaware of the fire due to the fact that the alarms did not sound there. After the band performing made an announcement of an alarm sounding, students were forced to evacuate when school officials ushered them to the front of the school.

“I was down there too and you can’t hear the alarm going off. I looked up and saw a lot of people leaving on the second floor near the library,” said Al Sigala, director of public and media relations. “[I said to myself] ‘Well, that’s all staff. Where are they going?’ And then I saw [a staff member] with an orange vest and I knew an alarm must’ve gone off.”

Students were waiting in the crowded bookstore where lines were reportedly wrapping around the room. When the alarm sounded, according to Sigala, many students refused to leave and lose their spot in line. According to Bookstore staff, they finally had to “yell,” at them to leave their books behind and evacuate the building.

According to  Reynolds, the evacuation proved successful. Reports said, the alarm rang at 11:55 a.m. and students were allowed back on campus at 12:08 p.m.

“As impromptu as it was, people were responsive students were cooperative and kept moving,” said Reynolds. “[It was] successful. Difficult but succesful.”

The evacuation alarms at school are organized by zones. Areas of the school that may be in immediate danger will have an alarm sound while other parts of the school that may not be in the same zone will hear no alarm.

Reynolds wants to advise students that if an alarm sounds when you’re not in a classroom, look for help from others. Follow other students and/or staff out to the parking lot if you are unsure of where to go.

As for an alarm not sounding in the Main Mall, Sigala says the school should prepare itself in case another alarm goes off during a large, outdoor event like Welcome Week.

“We had so many students and staff in the mall area. We had a real fire. It wasn’t a significant fire, but it was a real fire,” said Sigala. “We need to address how we’re going to handle it for now on. What do we do something like this happens.”

Sigala said he also hopes for more students to respond and move, real or false alarms.

“A false alarm happens, no doubt. It’s a rarity that a real fire happens but there’s still that possibility,” he said. “When that alarm goes off, you just don’t know what it is.”

An evacuation drill is set for Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. in the main academic center, Industrial Technology, Horticulture and Fisheries and Visual Arts Center. Another drill will sound at 6:35 p.m. for the Aquatics Center and HPE. A day time drill is scheduled for Thursday at 1:20 p.m. in main academic center, Industrial Techology, Horticulture and Fisheries, and the Visual Arts Center and once again at 1:40 p.m. at the Aquatic Center and HPE buildings.

Evacuate to the perimeter parking lots and should not attempt to drive during the evacuation. Students are also asked not to smoke during these drills.