High Rise fire leaves residents scrambling

Students living in High Rise North were greeted on their return to campus with an early wake-up call which sent them shivering across campus when a fire led to the evacuation of the building for three hours yesterday morning. The building fire alarm rang for the first of three times at 5 a.m., when it was activated by smoke from an open flame in the trash chute on the fourth floor. After the arrival of the fire department, High Rise North students, who were instructed to wait in the stairwell, were informed over the intercom to evacuate the building, Head Resident Constantine Simos said. Students, many of whom were only scantily dressed in boxer shorts, T-shirts and socks, headed for other dormitories, including High Rise South, where they encountered a problem with the security guard on duty. "At the first alarm, the security guard [in High Rise South] waited a few minutes before he let us in," College sophomore Katie Burrows said. "I guess he didn't realize there was a fire alarm going on." While many students went up to friends' rooms in the building, others were forced to wait in the crowded lobby. After about 20 minutes, the students were allowed to return to High Rise North. Many students were prepared for the alarm and brought jackets, sweatshirts and shoes, but some of those who trekked across Superblock did not even wear socks or shoes, said Wharton sophomore Marisa Carson. Just as students got resettled, after being readmitted into High Rise North, the alarm sounded again at 6:22 a.m., according to the University Police report. This time, the alarm was set off by a smoldering object on the 14th floor, according to a Philadelphia fireman. Again, students scattered to other high rises. After a little over an hour, they were allowed to return. Shortly thereafter, though, the alarm went off again. "The third alarm was the result of smoke leftover in the hallway," Simos said. Although some students evacuated the building a third time, they were not required to do so because the fire had already been put out, Simos said. Some students interviewed said they slept through the whole ordeal. One student said that upon hearing the fire alarm, her roommate told her to go back to sleep. Other students thought the alarm was just another of the many false alarms in the building, until they smelled smoke. "At first I thought it was some drunk kid who pulled [the fire alarm] again, but then I smelled smoke," said College sophomore Beth Sohol. Residential Living Director Gigi Simeone said there is no reason for students to ignore fire alarms. "We feel strongly that students should respond to every alarm," Simeone said. "It's unfortunate that there's a good degree of student vandalism [though]." Simos said fire evacuation procedures are posted behind every apartment door and in every elevator lobby, but added that he is writing a newsletter to all High Rise North residents stressing the importance of following the policies. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Fire Marshall's office.