Small Fire Erupts in Thayer Hall

A small fire in a Thayer Hall room forced students to evacuate last night around 11 p.m.

The blaze was caused by "careless disposal of smoking materials and rubbish," according to Cambridge Fire Department (CFD) Deputy Chief Robert J. Kotowski.

The fire was already extinguished when Cambridge firefighters found it, CFD Lt. Morgan D. Schaffer said.

"It burned itself out. All we had to do was alleviate the smoke with fans," Schaffer said.

Two ladder companies, three engine companies and one rescue division reported to the scene and 13 firefighters entered the dormitory.

Students said they were first notified of the blaze by a smoke alarm.

Third-floor resident Jason R. Stevenson '00 said he suspected the source of the smoke was room 302.

"I went next door to tell them to open a window," Stevenson said. "They weren't there, so I ran upstairs to see if they were up there."

Stevenson then contacted his proctor, Mark McComiskey, and the proctor called the police.

McComiskey declined comment on the incident.

George A. Economou '00, who lives on the fifth floor, said he entered Thayer after the evacuation, despite the presence of firefighters and a blaring alarm.

Economou said he noticed "a burnt pile of garbage" in front of room 302.

Many Thayer residents said they were disturbed by the evacuation, which kept them out of their rooms for 40 minutes.

"I'm cold, I'm tired, I just want my bed back," said Dave A. Boyajian '00.

"How can we sleep if our beds are burning?" asked Charles R. Scott '00.

Kotowski said he did not think the University would escalate its fire prevention efforts.

"We always have been telling [students] to be careful with that stuff," he said. "It's just a little common sense."