On a Sunday morning, on March 18, the freshmen living in Humphreys Hall waited outside for the firetrucks to arrive. Instead of reopening the building as usual, Campus Police taped off the surrounding area and called for PSE&G. Some freshmen grew concerned. An electrical box in the basement, near the SITTV Studio, had malfunctioned.
According to Daniel Cunning, the Fire Safety Coordinator, “This incident occurred within a switch that is designed to protect against electrical failure and the switch performed exactly as designed and expected. There was no danger, the small fire was contained within the fire-rated switch enclosure as it designed to do so. These types of failures are rare, but do happen.” Cunning, Campus Police, and the Hoboken Fire Department were notified immediately; the switch was repaired as soon as new components arrived. It is unclear whether the malfunction was connected to electrical maintenance in the North Building two days prior.
Residence halls are inspected regularly, twice at the start of each semester, and again by the Hoboken Fire Inspector in February.
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