Fire Alarm Sounds in Humanities Building

A smoldering trash can, caused by a cigarette butt, sounded the Humanities building fire alarm Thursday at approximately 3:12 p.m. A call was immediately made to the fire department.

Fire engine 63 arrived at 3:14 p.m. to tend to the smoldering trash can on the Humanities building piazza, said Captain Jason Williams of the Orange County Fire Authority. There were no injuries.

Student Brianna Fruimaono was waiting for her 4 p.m. class to start when she started to smell smoke on the first floor, but could not see any.

Fruimaono and other students were evacuated for approximately 10 minutes before being permitted to reenter the building at 3:20 p.m.

Some professors were still taking roll of their evacuated classes when the building was declared safe.

Williams said that no cigarette butts should be thrown into a trash can, even if they've been put out.