Tuesday, Oct. 25, 1994 ]

Fire forces Schwab evacuation

By CJ CALO and SCOTT PERRY Collegian Staff Writers

A fire in the underground, interconnecting steam tunnels below the mall prompted firefighters to evacuate Schwab Auditorium last night, interrupting the special movie screening of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Someone reported smelling smoke in Schwab to a University Police Services officer between 8 and 8:15 p.m. An officer then called Alpha Fire Company, which then arrived about 8:20 p.m., said Shawn Kauffman, assistant chief of the fire company.

"It was before eight o'clock and some people smelled leaves smoldering," Frank Cusack (senior-general science) said.

The fire was a collection of leaves burning in a steam tunnel in front of Sackett Building, Kauffman said. The firefighters used small, hand-held extinguishers to put out the blaze, he added.

Kauffman ruled the fire accidental and said it could have started by leaves under a storm grate. He said the leaves could have been ignited by any fire source, such as a match or cigarette.

Firefighters donned oxygen tanks and masks and lighted helmets before descending into the steam tunnels near Carnegie Building, Old Main and Willard Building. The firefighters traveled south until they found the source of the fire, Kauffman said.

The steam tunnels connect the buildings in the center of campus. The smoke could be smelled in the basement of Willard, outside of Carnegie and throughout the auditorium.

At least 30 firefighters and four fire trucks responded to the call. University Police officers on bikes and on foot also responded to the scene. The large amount of personnel was needed because the steam tunnels cover so much ground, Kauffman said.

The tunnels, some of which are only four feet wide by four feet high, are primarily used to conduct steam, Kauffman said.

To find the fire, firefighters had to search the underground access tunnels. Because they needed the oxygen tanks and masks, their searches were limited to stretches of approximately 20 to 30 minutes, Kauffman said. Between trips in the tunnels, firefighters rested and drank Gatorade.

"We were all herded out like cattle," Andrija Popovic (junior-film/video) said, adding, "I'm surprised the University police didn't use cattle prods."

Popovic and many others were watching Mystery Science Theater 3000 when the police came in and told them they must evacuate the building. Although many were upset about the interruption, most of the audience exited in an orderly manner.