By Grace Apostol
News Co-Editor
On Monday, April 1 around 4 p.m., the Clifton Miller Library evacuated due to reports of seeing and smelling smoke on the basement floor.
Public Safety was called to the scene to investigate, and in turn, notified the Chestertown Fire Department to report onto the scene.
Around 4:30 p.m. when the fire departments arrived, both the Public Safety and fire brigades took to the basement to investigate the cause of the smoke.
However, during the period of initial evacuation to the investigation, those who had been evacuated and gathered outside the library were not informed on what was occurring.
Senior Isabelle Leiphart was working in the library when the evacuation began. “They haven’t been telling the librarians anything either,” she said regarding the lack of communication during the incident. “There’s been very little communication between Public Safety and them.”
According to Leiphart, Public Safety took “a long time” to call the fire department about the smoke. “Also, I just think the communication with the librarian staff was unprofessional because one of the librarians directly asked them something and they completely ignored her,” Liephart said.
Shortly following the investigation of the basement, it was found by both departments that there was a faulty issue in the HVAC system, which they rectified. The fire department quickly departed after locating the issue and making sure there was no danger to the campus.
Vice President of Communications Brian Speer sent an email out to the College community regarding the incident. “At about 4:15 this afternoon, a mechanical failure in the HVAC systems in Miller Library resulted in some smoke,” the email said. “The building was evacuated, and the fire department responded. The fire department determined there was no danger and ventilated the building. The library has reopened.”
Photo Caption: Several fire trucks gathered in Martha Washington Square after hearing of smoke in the library.
Photo by Grace Apostol