Close to 250 residents of Temple Towers were forced to sleep overnight in the Student Center after a pipe burst in a mechanical area of the building released large amounts of steam which shorted the electrical system.
Acting Executive Director of Campus Safety Services Charlie Leone said the entire building was evacuated shortly after 1 a.m. on Saturday, April 26, when the power in the building failed due to the steam burst. Residents of the hall reported seeing steam in the first floor hallways. Leone said there was no actual fire in the building.
Leone said CSS monitored the effect of the steam burst and power outage at nearby 1300 Residence Hall, but determined there was not an issue.
Residents of Towers who attempted to spend the night in 1300 reported that they were told not to stay there due to the possibility of evacuation.
The all clear was issued around 6 a.m., and crews were in the building Saturday afternoon to fix electrical equipment.
Around 3 a.m., the fire alarm went off in 1940 Residence Hall, although Leone said that incident did not appear to be related. It was not immediately clear as to the reason for that alarm.
