News Brief

Dining hall closes due to grease fire Students seeking a quick breakfast or lunch in the form of Penn Dining Express meals from 1920 Commons Dining Hall yesterday had to find food elsewhere due to a small grease fire which forced the upper level to close for several hours. A minor equipment failure in the fryolator -- a frying grill -- led to a small grease fire at approximately 7:45 a.m. yesterday morning. "There was a small fire, which was immediately put out," Business Services spokeswoman Amy Johnson said. "We evacuated the building to ensure proper safety measures." Notices were posted on the dining hall's doors alerting students of an equipment failure and directing them to the Quadrangle's McClelland Hall for PD Express service. While the upper level remained closed off with yellow tape until dinnertime, the Subway, Bene Pizza and Sunset Strips operations in the lower level of 1920 Commons were open by lunchtime but unable to serve hot food -- creating long lines at the sandwich bar and inconveniencing some students. The entire building was open for dinner last night and is expected to be fully operational by today. -- Caroline Dube