Trash compacter causes fire
Cameron Birch
Issue date: 5/2/08 Section: News
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Jonathan Eboli, a civil and architectural engineering dual major and volunteer firefighter, was witness to the fire.
"[I heard a] loud crackling sound; [it] must have been the fence ... it was scary when it happened," Eboli said. "It could have gotten bad fast,"
However, while the fire was still a good distance from the building, Eboli notified the authorities and reported that both Drexel public safety and the front desk worker at North Hall called the fire department.
Within five minutes, the Philadelphia Fire and Police Departments had responded, and the fire was extinguished.
After the blaze had first started, Richard Drayton, a security supervisor, contained the flames using a fire extinguisher, Ceccanecchio said.
"[I was] impressed with how fast everything was taken care of," Eboli said.
There were four firefighters and one fire truck, a part of Engine 44, and water was taken from the truck to not require the use of a hydrant, according to Eboli.
When asked what he thought caused the fire, Eboli said he saw a charred electrical box. Ceccanecchio said the cause was a fire in a trash compactor that overheated, eventually setting flame to the surroundings.
The fire started at approximately 8 a.m., and North Hall was not evacuated, according to Ceccanecchio.
After the fire was put out, Philadelphia police marked off the area with security tape and Drexel Facilities was sent to clean up the area.
The fire department was deployed once again to the Race Street residence April 30, according to Robert Lis, assistant director of investigations for Drexel public safety.
"[The] cause of alarm was a fire pump malfunction in the basement," Lis said.
The alarm sounded at 6:25 a.m., and both the Philadelphia Police and Fire Departments and Drexel public safety responded.
Students were allowed back into the building at 6:50 a.m.
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