The Lincolnian

Issue date: 11/14/07 Section: News

Dozens of students in Cresson Hall, a female dormitory, were displaced after a fire broke out in the dorm's basement last week.

A faulty dryer vent in the basement of Cresson Hall, a dormitory on the campus of Lincoln University, was responsible for a fire that displaced dozens of students last Friday.

"I was looking out of my window and a man told me it was a fire," said Dominique Burton, a third floor resident of the hall.

The smoke could be seen pouring out of a side vent from the laundry room of the dorm, sending residents fleeing from their rooms.

"I saw smoke from the third floor," said Rashae Chambers.

Public Safety quickly responded and used 12 fire extinguishers to contain the fire and reduce the smoke.

"The darn thing wouldn't go out," said Roger Henley, police sergeant for the Department of Public Safety. Henley also recalled hearing a hissing sound from the gas line in the basement, which prompted him to call the fire department.

Volunteer firefighters from West Grove, Cochranville, Oxford, and Rising Sun Fire Departments showed up in a concerted effort to battle the blaze.

Administrators, faculty, and students stood outside awaiting word of what caused the fire. And many residents speculated about the possible causes. Some believed it to be the excessive heat in the building.

"This is ridiculous. We told them it was really hot in the basement and kept complaining about the heat," said Danielle Wooten, a Resident Advisor in Cresson.

"It's really hot in the rooms, to the point where you can't breathe," added Tyra King, another resident.

Some Cresson residents have long complained that the laundry room is in deteriorating condition.

"The basement looks incomplete and undone. There is a board to cover the hole [in the floor] leading to the laundry room," said Shamin Heard, a Cresson Hall resident.

Genyne Royal, Director of Residence Life, said that students have been reassigned to temporary houses and that all ID cards have been deactivated to prevent students from entering the building. It was unclear if residents would eventually be allowed access back into Cresson.

Jerryl Briggs, Dean of Students, said that students seeking to retrieve items from their dormitory room must be escorted into the building by Public Safety.

"Undoubtedly, this is a very unfortunate accident, however, gratitude must be extended to those staff and students who worked diligently, making sure all our Lincoln family was safe and secure," said Briggs. "Even within adversity, we continue to show our LU Pride."

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