Topics

More

Hammond Building Catches Fire, Will Be Closed Wednesday

The Alpha Fire Company was dispatched to Hammond at 10:53 p.m. Tuesday night after police reported a “working fire” inside the building. When crews arrived at the scene there was a self-ventilated fire pouring out of the windows of one of the rooms.

A graduate research office on the second floor caught fire and the cause is still unknown. The investigation is on hold until the insurance company sends an expert, Penn State spokesperson Lisa Powers said.

There was no one was in the building when the fire caught and crews had it out within ten minutes. Alpha Fire Company was on the scene and they also requested an engine from Boalsburg for backup because of how big the building is, Fire Chief Steve Bair said. Bair said they used approximately 600 gallons of water to extinguish the flames.

Other than the room where the fire originated, which is completely incinerated, there is light smoke throughout the building being vented by OPP, minor scorching on the wall a floor above where the fire started, and water in the basement.

“They are ventilating the building but the decision has been made that the building will be closed tomorrow,” Powers said. “Even though there wasn’t a lot of fire damage, the smoke damage and the smell from the smoke is keeping us in a cautious mode to keep the building unoccupied.”

About 200 people occupy Hammond on a daily basis. Most of it is administrative, but there are also undergraduate and graduate engineering students that utilize the building.

Depending on the lingering smoke fumes, crews will determine if the building is safe to re-open tomorrow.

UPDATE (Wednesday, 2:30 p.m.): According to a release from the university, normal operations for employees will resume in Hammond on Thursday. In order to reduce foot traffic while contractors repair damaged areas, all classes scheduled to take place in Hammond Building will be relocated.

The damage was primarily contained to Room 136, but as a precaution the classrooms and laboratory space directly above and below the affected room are closed while repairs take place.

Classes are scheduled to resume in Hammond on August 7.

Image: Cameron Hart

Your ad blocker is on.

Please choose an option below.

Sign up for our e-mail newsletter:
OR
Support quality journalism:
Purchase a Subscription!

About the Author

‘We Have A Good Feel For Those Teams’: Penn State Women’s Volleyball Taking Experience Into National Semifinals

The Nittany Lions have already played the three other national semifinalists this season.

What SMU Head Coach Rhett Lashlee Said About Penn State Ahead Of The College Football Playoff

Lashlee spoke about the weather, Tyler Warren, and “Mo Bamba.”

‘We Definitely Want To Get To Four’: Penn State Football Wanting To Create Depth At Defensive Tackle

Xavier Gilliam and Ty Blanding may have a larger role on the defensive line come the College Football Playoff.

113kFollowers
164kFollowers
63.1kFollowers
4,570Subscribers
Sign up for our Newsletter
Other posts by Megan

Wilkes-Barre Campus Closed Due To Bomb Threat

A threatening message was discovered on a bathroom door in the campus’ Science Center that warned a bomb was in the building, and it would detonate some time before noon on Friday, March 4.

Graduate School Revokes Doctorate For Plagiarism

Penn State Professor Receives Presidential Honor