January 9, 2008
Damaged sprinkler causes evacuation of wing at Shreve Residence Hall
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A damaged water sprinkler head showered the fifth floor of Purdue University's Shreve Residence Hall on Wednesday afternoon (Jan. 9), forcing an evacuation and the temporary displacement of 430 students.
The Purdue Fire Department, located across the street from the residence hall, responded to an alarm at 3:54 p.m., and the students were already being evacuated when firefighters arrived. The alarm sounded because the sprinkler was active.
The hall houses 860 students, 430 on each of the east and west wings, and the incident occurred on the west wing. East wing residents were allowed back in their rooms at 4:20 p.m. after it was determined there was no fire, said Purdue fire chief Kevin Ply.
The third, fourth and fifth floors on the west wing received water damage, but only the most damaged floor – the fifth – remained under evacuation shortly after 6 p.m., Ply said.
"We expect to be able to allow the fifth-floor residents back in their rooms this evening," he said.
University Residences and building services staff are cleaning up water damage. Risk management personnel were to arrive this evening to assess damage to any rooms and personal property.
Firefighters originally tried to use a tool designed to close a sprinkler head. Because the sprinkler had been severely damaged, Ply said firefighters had to turn off the entire fifth floor's sprinkler system. Ply said firefighters are investigating how the sprinkler head was damaged.
Writer: Jim Bush, (765) 496-2077, jsbush@purdue.edu
Source: Kevin Ply, (765) 418-1515, kmply@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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