Originally published Feb. 16, 2012 by SacCityExpress.com

Students wait for re-entry into the library after a staff member pulled the fire alarm on the 3rd floor due to a suspicious odor. Photo by Tony Wallin.

Firefighters responded to a fire alarm in the Learning Resource Center at City College at approximately 3:50 p.m. on Feb. 15 to investigate the smell of smoke on the third floor near the archives room.

According to librarian Pam Posz, a staff member pulled the fire alarm at approximately 3:10 p.m. after smelling smoke. The LRC was then evacuated.

“There was just a smell, no visible flames,” said Posz.

Firefighters left the school at approximately 4:15 p.m. after checking the building for structural integrity and investigating the cause of the smell. Despite several reports from students and staff that they had seen smoke, it was reported by the fire crew that it was, “just an odor” and the cause was still under investigation.

Students waiting in front of the LRC reported smelling smoke as they were leaving and several said they had to leave their belongings inside the building.

“I was writing a paper on a computer on the 2nd floor and the alarm went off. I didn’t hear it at first because I had my headphones on,” said Shawna York, a City College communications major. “I tried to save my work, but couldn’t because they told us to get out.”

Another student had to leave several personal items including her custom text books, which she had been using in the form of a PDF file on a computer.

“They told me to leave [my belongings] because it was just a test. I’m half-blind so I use enlarged text, I need my books,” said Mary Martin, a fashion design production major.

Another student arrived for his math tutoring, which was part of the canceled 4 p.m. labs, and was disappointed to find out he could not attend.

“I have math lab in there,” said Kenneth Logans. “I’m just trying to get in, I have a test tonight.”

As of 4:30 p.m., students had not been allowed back into the building.