Tamonda Griffiths – News Writer
August Pelliccio – Features and Opinions Editor
Victoria Bresnahan –News Editor
At about 1:36 p.m. a small grease fire in the Adanti Student Center (ASC) food court kitchen forced occupants to evacuate the building.
Wayne Ricks, acting battalion chief for the New Haven Fire department, said when he responded to the fire he saw a lot of smoke coming down the hallways.
“I went in and took a peak and the chemical agents from the hood basically put the fire out,” said Ricks. “We just had a lot of smoke.” No injuries were reported. Occupants of the building were allowed back in at about 2:37 p.m.
Fans were set up to help ventilate smoke out of the ASC, said Ricks.
“We, like everybody else, are required by law to have some pretty robust fire suppression systems in those areas,” said Mark Rozewski, executive vice president of finance and administration, “because there is always a risk of grease catching on fire.”
He said the food court would be open again on Monday. Bob Sheeley, associate vice president of capital budgeting and facilities operations, said the health department will be re-inspecting the ASC on Monday, as well.
Brad Crerar, director of the ASC, said the fire suppression system in the food court is tested semi-annually. This, he said, is the first case since the building’s opening in 2006 the system was deployed due to a fire.
Photo Credit: August Pelliccio