Matt Weir / The Collegian
Flames, smoke interrupt classes in Speech Arts
Multiple trash fires set on the California State University, Fresno campus Wednesday night forced the evacuation of dozens students and faculty from the Speech Arts building, according to a report filed with the university police department.
The first fire was reported at 8:18 p.m. inside the Speech Arts building, and was started inside of a trash can on the northwest end of the building. The Fresno Fire Department and police officers arrived on the scene by 8:30 p.m., according to the Fresno Fire Department public information officer Gary Eberhard. Multiple trucks and 27 personnel were dispatched to the campus, Eberhard said.
Witnesses said that they spotted fire and smelled smoke as early as 8:18 p.m. Within minutes, they said, smoke had filtered throughout the building.
Two other fires were reported within minutes of the first.
A trash can outside the Keats Building was reported to be in flames at 8:20 p.m.
At 8:45 p.m., university police responded to a report of a possible fire in the Social Science Building. They found charred paper remains in an office inside the building, according to public information officer Amy Armstrong of the University Police Department (UPD).
Armstrong said UPD personnel extinguished the fires immediately.
Fresno State student Brandon Holloway was rehearsing inside of the University Theatre when the trash fire set off fire alarms throughout the building.
Holloway, a double major in theatre arts and mass communication and journalism, is a contributing writer for The Collegian who aided in extinguishing the trash fire inside of the speech arts building.
Matt Weir / The Collegian
Holloway said that he and about 29 other people were rehearsing for an upcoming play when one of his cast mates smelled smoke coming from outside of the room.
“We thought that someone was playing a prank on the stage crew, so we tried to find where the smoke was coming from,” Holloway said.
He said that some of his fellow cast mates fled the building, but he stayed behind to try and stop the fire.
“I went back in first. We tried to move the trash can, but [the fire] was too intense,” Holloway said. “The trashcan was completely engulfed in flames. I tried to move it, to get it out of the way of the soda machine because of the electrical cords.”
Access to the building was halted for several hours after authorities blocked off entrances. Classes inside the building as well as the stage rehearsal inside of the University Theatre did not resume.
The Speech Arts building hosts several graduate level classes during the evening as well as housing the University Theatre, photo and video studio. Fresno States music building also runs adjacent to the Speech Arts Building where hundreds of students in Fresno States marching band were holding their annual Band Spectacular.
No property damage was reported and firefighters are currently trying to determine the cause of the fire. Fresno Fire Department Capt. Andrew Noel said that the full investigation is still underway, and it may be days or weeks before an official cause is known.
Armstrong said that UPD currently has no suspects in the case.
“We’re investigating each incident, but there’s no speculation at this time,” Armstrong said.