Thomas Hall residence and dining facilities were evacuated Thursday evening, March 26, after a suspected electrical fire, according to Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Janet Heeter-Bass. No one was injured during the incident. The dining hall was closed when a worker spotted smoke coming from an electrical outlet, said Heeter-Bass.
The source of the fire was coming from a storage unit underneath the dining hall.
The scene from above the basement of Thomas Hall on March 26.
According to Heeter-Bass, four fire trucks and one squad car arrived on the scene two minutes after the call was placed by Deven Siesel, Student Life Coordinator.
The first fire truck arrived around 7:20 p.m. New Concord, Perry Township, and Cassell Station Fire Departments responded.
All students evacuated were instructed to go the neighboring residential building.
The students were allowed back in the residential building at 9:14 p.m., according to first-year student Payton Patterson. Fire trucks were seen leaving Thomas Hall at 9:38 p.m.
Heeter-Bass states that Thomas Dining Hall and the Student Success Center will be closed until further notice due to clean up and inspections.
New Concord Fire Chief Brent Gates, will be inspecting the building. Stay with Orbit Media News for more details.
Update: The Muskingum Student Success Center is scheduled to reopen March 29. The Thomas Dining Hall is scheduled to reopen after Easter Break.
Police line at Thomas Dining Hall March 26.
Close up of the storage unit being investigated in March 26 fire.
Muskingum Physical Plant staff members enter Thomas Hall on March 26.
