Another fire incident at Wesleyan

The Hall-Atwater Laboratories building at Wesleyan, which has been partially closed since the fire on Sunday night, has again been evacuated and closed, after a minor fire broke out around 2PM Wednesday afternoon. A senior administration official explained to me that when electrical power was returned to the building, a piece of equipment malfunctioned, sending smoke into the building. The Fire Department responded and brought hoses into the building to extinguish the fire.

Althought the damage from this latest "minor incident" does not appear to be extensive, Hall-Atwater will remain closed until 7AM Thursday morning. The full restoration of power to the research labs in the building is also likely to be delayed.

Wesleying reports that 5 firetrucks responded to this fire.

Wesleyan fire update

This morning's fire in a Wesleyan science building damaged or destroyed at least six research laboratories, and has left about half of the labs and classrooms in the Chemistry and Molecular Biology Departments without power. Wesleyan physical plant staff are on hand to assess the damage, restore power, and begin the clean-up process.

Research scientists in the affected laboratories, including professors, PhD students, and lab technicians, are scrambling to protect their ongoing research projects.

Chemical Fire Destroys Lab at Wesleyan

A chemical fire in a lab in the Hall-Atwater Labratory Building on Wesleyan's campus last night.

The building was still closed this morning as fire investigators try to determine the cause.

A few firemen suffered minor injuries, according to those still on the scene.

Late word is that the science and lab staffs are scrambling to protect ongoing research projects, many of which are in progress, or stored in freezers at Hall-Atwater. Hall-Atwater is shut down, and reports are that it will stay that way for at least a day, and power is out. Staff are running power cords, and transferring delicate research projects to protect them from failure due to the power outage.

Video courtesy Wesleying.