Radiator bursts, floods rooms

Some damage, but no injuries in English House incident Luckily for Wharton sophomore Anthony Capone, he was not asleep in his English House room early yesterday morning. If he had been, he would have been burned by steam or water, said Capone's roommate, College freshman Tom McFadden. The radiator next to Capone's bed burst at approximately 2 a.m. yesterday, flooding the room with about three inches of water and filling up the entire first floor hallway with steam. University Police Officer Charles Smith said no one was hurt in the incident, although several rooms suffered some water damage, including the downstairs commissary. McFadden was in the room when the radiator burst. "I heard a boom, a crash, and then water hitting the floor," he said. University Police would not let him in his room for a while after the incident because of the intense heat, McFadden said. McFadden added that when both roommates were finally allowed back in their room, they found it "totalled." "It even hurt to go in [the room] because of the steam and hot water," he said. "I guess I'll salvage the stuff I have and probably get a new room." Although McFadden knows it's no one's fault, he is still extremely upset. Capone said he thinks the University should take care of its students. "I want [the University] to know that we've got books and personal notes which need to be replaced," he added. There has been no heat in English House for the past three days, Nursing freshman Julie Frost said. Operations Control Center Shift Supervisor Tom Truesdale said cold temperatures were responsible for the pipe bursting. He said the vent in the radiator, which lets air out of the system, froze, causing it break off when hot water hit it. Residential Living Director Gigi Simeone said there is emergency housing available if the students want to be temporarily relocated and the students should fill out reimbursement forms with the Risk Management Office. If the students would like to relocate permanently, Simeone added, Residential Living would find an alternate residence. McFadden said he would like to remain in English House, despite the circumstances, but added he would like to get settled as quickly as possible, "wherever that is." McFadden said he is not concerned about the immediate future because many people in English House have offered to let him stay in their rooms and have offered him clothing.