Residents were forced to evacuate Harper on Thursday, March 20, when students found a fire in the elevator. The fire was started between 10:30 and 11:00 pm that night, causing smoke damage but injuring none.

Marc St-Onge and Ryan MacLeod were the Resident Assistants on duty. According to MacLeod, after two students came down in the elevator, he and St-Onge noticed a burning smell. When the elevator doors were once more opened, it was filled with smoke.

“Black smoke came gushing out,” said St-Onge.

The plastic grating covering the lights had caught on fire, probably after a person had melted it, and fell to the floor of the elevator. MacLeod explained how there have been incidences in the past in Harper where people use lighters to melt the plastic.

“It’s not a new thing or anything, but it hasn’t turned into a real fire before,” he said.

The fire was confined to the elevator with a fire extinguisher, and there was no extensive damage. “The only thing that really burned was the plastic grate and the tile on the floor,” said St-Onge.

Still, the custodial staff was called in to clean the elevator and were there until 3 am, according to MacLeod.

The elevator remains functional to the custodial staff, but is turned off to the general public at least until the end of the term. While some are unhappy about not being able to use the elevator, MacLeod believes that students all support the decision to restrict use of the elevator.

To St-Onge and MacLeod’s understanding, there will be a University Judicial hearing for the students who are believed to be responsible.

MacLeod hopes that this will deter students from using fire and melting plastic in the residence. As he put it, “People don’t take into consideration the full extent of their actions.”

“I hope that people would see this situation and realize that stuff like that could be dangerous,” said MacLeod.