A gas-powered fireplace ignited, resulting in the injury of three students, outside the Hodson Dining Commons on Wednesday around noon.
The three students were evaluated and released by medical professionals the same day.
People on the scene immediately called emergency services. Taylor University’s staff, campus police and several emergency management people responded quickly to see what had occurred, Skip Trudeau, vice president for Student Development and Intercollegiate Athletics, said. Facilities came over and shut the gas and power electricity off to the fire pit.
The other gas fireplaces on campus were also temporarily turned off while the situation is being assessed.
Donna Downs, associate professor of communication, and her senior capstone class were meeting when the incident occurred. While she and the 18 communication students typically meet under the pavilion, they had decided to hold class around one of the fire pit tables that afternoon.
The button to turn on the fire was pressed, which suddenly sent a burst of flame in various directions, Downs said.
“A lot of people’s hair was singed,” senior Isabelle LaPapa said. “The charcoal rocks from the fire pit itself were thrown out at people, and some of the rocks went into my lap, and some landed on other people’s heads. Some people’s hair was on fire …It was, like, just a chaotic moment.”
As soon as Downs realized there were injured students, she called campus police who sent EMTs.
When the EMTs arrived, the students were taken to the hospital and cared for.
“Everyone who wasn’t hurt was kind of just incredulous,” LaPapa said. “...But for the people who were hurt, they were surprisingly calm, honestly. Like they were crying because they were hurt, but they were like, ‘I’m OK. It’s OK.’”
While the university is still unsure of what caused the fire pit malfunction, they are taking the situation seriously, according to an email from Student Development addressing the incident.
The university said it will be working with professionals to conduct an investigation into what happened and how they can ensure the safe functioning of the fire pits moving forward.
“The safety of our campus is of utmost concern,” Trudeau said. “We’re gonna do everything we can to make sure something like this doesn’t happen (again).”
