Despite claims that Friday morning's fire in South Campus Commons 1 started from an elevator malfunction, officials have now confirmed the fire was caused by a cigarette.
But four days after the fire, students are voicing their concerns regarding not only the aftermath of the incident, but also the lack of notification from management.
Prince George's County Fire Department Spokesman Mark Brady originally speculated that an elevator motor overheated and caused the fire. However, he confirmed last night this was not the case.
"Smoke gathered in the lobby near an elevator," Brady said, leading him to believe the elevator sparked the fire. "Upon further investigation, it was determined that it was caused by a cigarette."
Alan Sactor, assistant director with the University Fire Marshal, said "carelessly discarded smoking materials" caused Friday's fire.
Sactor explained that someone was smoking a cigarette and possibly flicked it near combustible materials. Sactor said although the incident occurred near an elevator, the fire itself "had nothing to do with an elevator."
Dave Hawley, associate director for the South Campus Commons and Courtyards, added that the fire started in the rooftop elevator lobby.
Hawley said officials don't know who was smoking the cigarette. Only employees are allowed on the rooftop, but Hawley said students have gotten onto it in the past. For that reason, he said, the situation is still under investigation.
"The fire and smoke damage was minimal," Hawley said, explaining the fire started directly under a sprinkler and was extinguished quickly. He said the most extensive damage was actually caused by water from the sprinkler system. Hawley estimated the damages to cost between $20,000 and $25,000, explaining water went down the elevator shafts and damaged electrical equipment in the elevator systems.
On Sunday, Brady speculated damages would cost $10,000, but yesterday he increased his estimate to $25,000.
Matt Snider, a junior animal and avian sciences major, said he was preparing for an interview when he was forced to evacuate his room in Commons 1 that morning. He said by the time residents were allowed into the building, he did not have enough time to get back in his room. Ultimately, he was forced to go to his interview unprepared
Snider added that, although management has been "pretty snappy" in repairing the building, the staff is often slow in notifying residents as to the reasons for the multiple evacuations that have occurred at Commons 1 this semester.
Sarah Akkoush, a senior cell biology and molecular genetics major, said she has heard varying stories regarding the start of Friday's fire and still feels unsure about its cause. "I feel like they're not telling us the whole story, which isn't fair," she said.
The South Campus Common's Web site stated that the building was evacuated Friday morning because of "a small fire caused by a cigarette." The statement on the site goes on to say that the fire "caused minimal damage."
Residents who lived in apartments affected by the water damage were also given letters by management assuring them that the maintenance staff was cleaning up and repairing the building. Turbo dryers could be seen in the hallways where water damage was at its worst, and residents said dehumidifiers were used in some of their rooms to prevent further damage.
However, students added that the large, noisy dehumidifiers, as well as the presence of maintenance staff in their rooms, added insult to injury.
Senior marketing major Laura Dimon who lives with Akkoush, agreed that the aftermath of the fire is still a major setback for students living near the areas of the building affected by water damage.
"That, along with the lack of answers, has been a consistent inconvenience," Dimon said.
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