Pforzheimer Rooms Flooded by Sprinklers

Last Wednesday night, Monica Sullivan ’03 returned home to the third floor of Pforzheimer House to find a Harvard University police officer blocking the way to her suite—which was drenched.

The police officer directed Sullivan to the house dining hall to sit with other anxious hallmates. She was told a fire sprinkler had burst and five rooms had suffered considerable water damage.

According to Pforzheimer House Master Sue McCarthy, officials have not yet decided whether the damage was accidental or malicious.

Wednesday’s flood primarily affected rooms 301, 302, 303, 314 and 315 in Holmes Hall of Pforzheimer House. Black water from the House’s fire-reserves rose about three to four inches, covering many electrical outlets as well as residents’ personal belongings.

“We started picking stuff up from the floor, trying frantically to save our stuff,” said Abby Wild ’02, who was in her room at the time. “Then we realized the fire alarm was going off. We changed clothes and ran into the stairwell.”

The flood prevented students from returning to their rooms for homework or to save their personal possessions.

Later that night, residents were told they could return briefly to their rooms to retrieve homework and clothes. Most chose to spend the night with friends on other floors and returned the following morning.

Janitors spent the night scrubbing and vacuuming the rooms, yet smaller areas such as closets still had pools of water.

“I feel bad for the people who weren’t here at the time and couldn’t save their things,” Wild said.

Birgit Larsson ’02 lost a power adapter, clothes, textbooks and papers that were on the floor.

“We’re still testing things to figure out what works,” she said. “My computer speakers were drenched and haven’t worked yet.”

According to McCarthy, the issue of compensation for ruined belongings is still being addressed.

Despite the mess, stench and frustration of losing valuable possessions, students said the situation was handled well.

“The janitors spent a lot of time cleaning and their effort should be commended. They worked hard to move us back into our rooms as soon as possible,” said Jyoti Kandlikar ’02.

“It was something we handled,” McCarthy said. “People who were supposed to do their jobs did it.”