Fire lights up at Valley

Numerous Valley College classes were evacuated due to a restroom fire.

By Meg Taylor, News Editor

Fire alarms echoed throughout Valley College’s Humanities building Monday night signaling students to evacuate; the root of the fire— a trash can.

A student returned to his English 101 class at approximately 7:45 p.m., warning his classmates and professor of an apparent fire in the men’s restroom. According to LAVC’s Deputy Saldivar, the emergency protocol is to pull the fire alarm and contact the campus Sheriff’s department. However, the professor violated protocol and called 911. Roughly 15 minutes after the fire was reported, the alarm began to sound, causing everyone to evacuate the smoke filled halls.

The LAVC Sheriff's department received an indicator off the fire alarm and sent units over to the scene. Upon arrival, they saw the fire was contained in a small trash can; they were able to put it out with an extinguisher. There was no damage to the building and nobody was injured.

“I think somebody may have put either a cigarette out or something like that. I don’t think it was intentionally set,” said Saldivar. The Team Leader of the Sheriff's Department continued on stating, “Anytime there’s a fire alarm that goes off, students should follow normal protocol by exiting the building and follow any instruction given to them by their professors or campus personnel.”

However, further investigation must be completed to verify the cause of the fire. Although the fire did not cause physical damage, it left a crowd full of faculty and students in a panic.

“In the height of an unknown climate one is left to wonder what is truly happening. Is it a fire or is someone trying to get you to run out and be slaughtered,” said Valley Star staff writer, Lee Villanueva, who was auditing the English 101 class that night.

This story is breaking and will be updated.