The Omnibus

Issue date: 8/31/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Grace Jeoung A blackened wall shows the remnants of an electrical fire in Meyer Hall Aug. 20. The damages have been fixed.

A small electrical fire on the first day of classes left Meyer Hall residents in alternate housing for about a week while repairs were made to the dorm's electrical wiring.
Southwest Baptist University's electrician Alan Copeland discovered the fire around 2 p.m. Aug. 20. Copeland was able to put the fire out before emergency vehicles arrived.
"There was no smoke, a lot of heat," said Copeland to the "Bolivar Herald-Free Press." "I said, 'I see fire on the ground' so I shut [the electricity] down."
SBU President Dr. C. Pat Taylor reported that no injuries occurred as a result of the fire and the fire department was contacted as a precautionary measure.
Damage was minimal to the building itself. Wires were replaced on both floors. The first floor needed repairs to some lighting units.

The 46 displaced students have returned to their rooms. Students who lived on the top floor moved back into their rooms Wednesday, while those who lived on the first floor had to wait until Saturday to move back into their rooms.
"It was rough to not stay in our room," said freshman Caleb Dubly. "But it turned out okay."
Monday's fire was an exclamation mark on a strange first day of class.
An early morning torrential rainstorm revealed some leaky roofs and flooded several buildings while causing minor foundation damage to the newly renovated Jim Mellers Center. Some reports of flooding were proven to be false.
The city of Bolivar also experienced flooding and water damage including some fires throughout the city. Some bridges were washed away, and flooded streets backed up traffic in some cases.
No serious injuries or deaths were reported a result of the hazardous conditions created by the weather.

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