Santa Cruz Sentinel 5/30/04

UCSC Currents 6/1/04

According to UCSC fire department personnel, the sprinklers were active for 18 minutes at approximately 25 gpm, so a total of less than 500 gallons of water are estimated to have been released in the building to control the incipient fire. The water was tested for radiation and pH, and it was determined that no chemical containers had been breached in the fire area, so the runoff was considered non-hazardous. After consultation with local POTW officials, the water was suctioned off the floors by UCSC custodial staff and released to the sanitary sewer system, with notification being given to the treatments plant at each discharge.

Water migrated down through the building along chases and through various penetration points, puddling on lower floors and causing some secondary damage. A professional restoration company, Belfor, was contacted that night and is working on drying out the building. The power remained on throughout the incident, sample freezers stayed running, and the only casualty appeared to be the freight elevator.

EH&S personnel were on the scene after the incident, and took the following pictures. These thumbnails are reduced versions of the original pictures; to get the larger version, click on the thumbnail.