Editor’s note: This is a developing story and will continue to be updated as details emerge. Follow @CharlatanLive and @temurdur for live updates.
Update #1:
A fire alarm caused students and staff at Carleton’s MacOdrum Library to evacuate the premises at around 2:30 p.m. today.
Carleton communications officer Steven Reid told the Charlatan the alarm was a result of a mechanical issue.
“A mechanical issue in an elevator shaft triggered the fire alarm,” Reid said in an email.
Reid confirmed that Ottawa Fire Services responded to the scene, but found that “there was no fire.”
A Carleton Safety officer on the scene said there was possible smoke detected in the library, but Reid did not provide confirmation about any detected smoke.
Students and staff were allowed back in the library after waiting about 30 minutes in the quad.
#Breaking: a fire alarm has been heard at @CarletonLibrary, and students have been asked to evacuate premises. More to come from @CharlatanLive. #ottnews #ottcity #carletonu #carletonnews pic.twitter.com/WFUSmFQBFO
— Temur Durrani (@temurdur) April 15, 2019
Update #2, as of April 16:
The elevator connecting tunnels to the library was temporarily closed down, as of Tuesday, April 16, according to Carleton’s official Twitter account.
Steven Reid, Carleton communications officer, confirmed the out-of-service elevator was linked to the fire alarm on Monday, April 15.
”Parts needed for the repair are on order, but repairs will take some time to complete,” the school’s official Twitter said.
Patrons of the library requiring assistance from the tunnels were asked to contact the library front desk at 613-520-2733 for assistance on Tuesday, April 16. An alternative elevator was set up for patrons that required tunnel access to the library.
Update #3, as of April 17 at 11 a.m.:
The elevator connecting the tunnels to the library is back in service as of Wednesday, April 17, Steven Reid said in an email.
Reid is a communications officer at Carleton.
“Facilities Management and Planning appreciates your understanding during this unplanned outage,” an emailed statement to the Charlatan said.
#UPDATED: Elevator connecting tunnels to @CarletonLibrary is now back in service after the fire alarm/mechanical failure on Monday, @simplewords000 confirmed in an email to @CharlatanLive: https://t.co/6WQQt37j70. #ottfire #ottnews #ottcity #carletonu #carletonnews pic.twitter.com/XOW0x8rgtN
— Temur Durrani (@temurdur) April 17, 2019
Update #4, as of April 17 at 2:30 p.m.:
A second fire alarm caused staff and students at the library to evacuate on Wednesday, April 17 at around 2:30 p.m.
Carleton communications officer Steven Reid told the Charlatan the alarm was linked to the mechanical failure of the elevator connecting the tunnels to the library from Monday, April 15.
The elevator—which was briefly opened after reported repairs by FMP on April 17—was closed again after the fire alarm earlier today.
“Due to unforeseen circumstances, the elevator serving MacOdrum Library from the tunnel has been taken out of service. Technicians are investigating and repairs will be scheduled,” Reid said in an email. “Facilities Management and Planning appreciates your understanding while we work to complete these repairs.”
Patrons of the library waited around 20 minutes before they were let back in. Students on scene told the Charlatan smoke was not detected outside or inside the library.
In the interim period, patrons requiring use of the elevator from the tunnel can contact the MacOdrum Library front desk at 613-520-2733 for assistance with using an alternate elevator, or patrons can exit the tunnel at the Tory junction to use the exterior ramp for access to the main floor of the library.
More to come.
Photo by Leila El Shennawy
