By Michael Walsh
The New Britain Fire Department is on the scene of a smoky fire in the upper level of James residence hall, according to a press released issued this morning by Mark McLaughlin, Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communication.
McLaughin says in the press release that the fire has appeared to been contained to only the top level of the residence hall.
The fire alarm went off around 9:30 this morning and according to McLaughlin, all students have been evacuated by a floor-by-floor check conducted by the NBFD and the CCSU facilities management. Those students are being offered accommodations in the lower level of Carrol and North halls.
CCSU and NBFD are continuing to address the situation and say that more information will be forthcoming, but the fire is reportedly under control.
UPDATE: (3:30 p.m.) McLaughlin says that students will not be able to sleep in James hall overnight tonight. He says most students living close enough have gone home, while others will be able to spend the night at the gym inside Kaiser Hall where cots and provisions will be available to them. Students are also able to choose to stay with a friend or classmate that lives in another residence hall. Professional cleaning crews will be hired by the university to get rid of the smoky smell lingering inside James hall. Work is expected to begin promptly and James hall is expected to be open Wednesday afternoon.