Park University Campus Safety confirmed a fire with significant damage at the Alumni Hall during the late evening hours Monday, Oct. 7.

Chris Loos, director of campus safety, commented on the event on Tuesday, Oct. 8.

“The smoke detector went off last night around 10:55,” he said. “We went down there and there was smoke in the third and fourth floor of the Alumni Hall. We called the fired department. They showed up and they tracked down the fire, which originated from the green room on the third floor.”

The cause of the fire is being investigated but a cause has yet to be determined.

“A fire inspector was here today (Tuesday) to kind of investigate,” said Loos. “Right now the causes are unfounded so they were not able to determine an actual cause. They were able to determine that it originated from that area.”

According to Loos, the fire aftermath process includes talking with the insurance company to get notice to clean up.

“I know right now they started clean up in the areas around,” said Loos. “Not the room that was actually on fire but the ones where the water was going down the stairs.”

The process of cleaning up started Tuesday morning and according to Loos they don’t know the time frame or how long it will take.

“We don’t know at this point when it’s going to be finished, when they are going to start,” he said. “We don’t know how long it will take. So were just kind of waiting until everyone has been able to come in and assess the extent of the damage.”

The classes at the building are being relocated right now, according to Loos. Faculty offices are also being temporarily relocated.

“The building is closed right now until its safe and clean up happens,” said Loos. “There’s a lot of work that needs to be done, some things are going to be torn out and replaced and repainted and all different kinds of things but they are currently working on it. I don’t know how long it will take but I know they are working on it.”

Students involved in the theater production and who have work study job at Alumni Hall expressed their concern about the event.

“We can’t do rehearsals and we can’t build our set,” said Michelle Travers, theatre department work study, stage manager for the production of “Art of Murder” and senior interior design major. “We will get even further behind.”

Max Mohr, freshmen and theater work study student, also expressed his thoughts about the fire.

“We can’t go to work,” he said. “And we have a set to build and it needs to be done in about two weeks. Hopefully, everything will get fixed soon.”

“When I first learned about the fire I felt sick to my stomach since Alumni hall is my home away from home,” said Elisha Bailey, senior art major and work study for art department. “The fire is affecting me in every way possible since that is where all my art work takes place and is stored during the semester along with classes, work, and Art Club. Alumni Hall has been a huge part of my life for the past three years and I’m sure the Theater people feel the same as I do and the rest of the art students. I am happy everyone is safe, but I don’t know how midterms are going to work now since all my art is there.”

More stories about the cause of fire and renovation plans will be held in upcoming issues of The Stylus.