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`At 9:54 p.m. Thursday, April 1, the Millersville Fire Company received an alert that they could only hope was an April Fool’s joke. The peacefully silent Thursday night for many Millersville University students who are residents of Harbold Hall was sliced through by shrieking fire alarms.
The first authorities on the scene were the Millersville Police, who also identified the lingering smoke smell as a potential fire in the building. The next authorities on the scene were the Millersville Fire Company, Fire Chief Keith Eshleman, two fire engines. According to Fire Chief Eshleman, the cause of the fire was a washing machine malfunction, and was a minor event. No injuries were reported.
The firemen entered Harbold Hall through the rear main exit, and descended into the basement as soon as the smell was identified to be from the lowest floor of the building. The firemen examined the entire washing room for any more malfunctions, and to also make sure that the building was again safe for returning Harbold students. The students were evacuated for 30 minutes from when the fire alarm first sounded.
Christine Mease, a resident of Harbold Hall, said, “Evacuation was good. Everyone was calm, and there was no mass hysteria.”
Even though the evacuation process was good, students were upset over the wait for such a minor event. At the very least, Harbold students will get one new washer due to the incident.