Smoking laundry

By Joshua Snader ’20, Staff Writer

Emergency crews responded to two laundry-related incidents this week, one in Silver Hall on Sunday evening and one in Mary Green Hall on Tuesday morning.

Campus officials have confirmed that there were no actual flames, only smoke, during Sunday night’s incident. Additionally, the smoke was coming from a washing machine, not a dryer, as originally reported.

“There was no active fire,” Michael Mumper, director of facility’s management said. “The only thing damaged was the motor on the washing machine.”

Public safety officers were the first ones on the scene Sunday night according to Brent Oberholtzer, director of public safety.

“I can add that my staff (two members) responded and did the initial abatement of smoke,” Oberholtzer said. “They then assisted the responding firefighters and alerted the Student Affairs Administrator on call (Greg Krikorian). Once the building was ruled safe, we ushered the students back into the residence hall.”

The cause of the smoke in Silver Hall was attributed to an overloaded washing machine. The incident in Mary Green is currently under investigation at this time.

Students are reminded to clean out dryer vents after removing their clothing from the dryer. When loading dryers also make sure the vent has been cleaned out. Additionally, students should not overload the machines, according to Mumper. Clothes should only fill about half to three-fourths of the machine.