In what is being termed as a significant setback for Lake Superior State University, a fire recently broke out at the institution’s Center for Applied Sciences and Engineering, causing substantial damage. The incident is currently under investigation by the state police and the Sault Michigan fire department, who are working diligently to determine the extent of the damage and to identify the underlying cause of the fire.
The university’s Chief Ed Miller has reported that several robotic machines housed within the building were either damaged or completely destroyed by the fire. The exact extent of the damage, particularly from the thick, toxic, and greasy soot produced by the fire, remains unknown at this time. Miller indicated that smoke damage was prevalent throughout much of the building, with the robotics and engineering labs experiencing the most severe impact.
“We have four machines that will need to be replaced, but there is also a lot of heat and soot damage to other equipment. At this point, we are uncertain about their functionality and the type of repairs they may require,” said Miller. He further highlighted the high cost of many of these pieces of equipment, which are integral to the lab’s operations.
The financial implications of the lost equipment are still being calculated, but Miller anticipates that it will represent a significant loss for the university. He explained, “This incident impacts not only the financial aspect but also the students’ learning experience. The loss of equipment will certainly affect their education.”
The ominous soot and smoke produced by the fire were reportedly unlike those seen in typical fires. These byproducts contained components from the burning materials, including plastics and heavy metals from lithium batteries. “This greasy residue adheres to surfaces and is very difficult to clean. The extensive exposure throughout the building and labs means it will take considerable time to clean up and assess all the damage,” Miller added.
The building’s power was cut during the fire, disabling any fire suppression or alert system that could have prevented the fire from reigniting. In response to this, students from the LSSU Fire Services program stepped in to monitor the building.
“Lake State has an excellent criminal justice and fire/EMS program, and their students form a First Response Team. They diligently monitored the building, conducting hourly walkthroughs and reporting to LSSU Public Safety. Given the amount of batteries and electronic equipment in the room, it was crucial to ensure nothing else happened,” Miller explained.
While the official cause of the fire is yet to be determined pending a complete investigation, Miller mentioned that they have video evidence from the building’s security cameras that could potentially shed light on the origin of the fire.
This incident underscores the importance of fire safety in educational institutions, particularly those dealing with electronics, computers, and programming languages. These areas often house expensive equipment and materials that can be hazardous if not handled properly. Coding labs and other similar spaces should have robust safety measures in place to prevent such unfortunate incidents.
The Lake Superior State University community is now left to grapple with the aftermath of this incident, but they remain hopeful that they can bounce back stronger, ensuring a safe and conducive learning environment for their students.
