CAS evacuated due to faulty steam valve

Kean police and Union Fire Department respond.
By: Rebecca Panico

Faculty and students were evacuated at approximately 3:50 p.m. on Jan. 29 in the Center for Academic Success building after steam from a faulty valve set off fire alarms.

Two Kean police cars arrived on the scene within minutes, followed by a Union Township fire truck to deal with the scene.

Captain Jay Perrotto of the Union Fire Department explained that Kean’s maintenance staff would turn off the valve and that there was no damage to the building or any injuries.

Those who were evacuated had to wait outside for about 20 minutes until they were allowed back in. Some decided to wait inside the Nancy Thompson Library across from the CAS to escape the cold.

Although some complained that the disturbance came at an inconvenient time since the campus closed Monday afternoon and all day Tuesday due to inclement weather, others did not mind.

“It’s not a big inconvenience,” explained Professor Larry Tung of the Media and Film Department. “Better safe than sorry, and we were let back in pretty quickly.”

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