Fox Hall On Fire
On Tuesday April 8, Fox Hall was evacuated due to a fire that started in the Student Accessibility Services office shortly before 8 p.m. Everyone was able to evacuate successfully and there were no injuries. Canton Fire Department responded to Fox Hall and put out the fire preventing it from spreading. “When I left the student center with a friend at 12:30 a.m. there were still fire trucks outside of Fox,” said Ashley Wieland ’26.
“We came downstairs and there was a bunch of smoke,” said Matt Ferland ’25, who was doing work in the science library. At first students in Fox Hall thought it was another fire drill and didn’t think much of the situation. “We were all under the assumption it would be a drill because SLU loves their random fire drills,” said Evelyn Albrecht ’25. “We were all under the impression it was a drill still but then when they opened the door the entire first floor foyer of Fox was filled with smoke,” continued Albrecht.
Some students were less than impressed with Safety and Securities response time to the scene. “We were standing outside like oh my gosh when are they going to come,” said one student in reference to SLU safety and security. “It took like 15 minutes or so for safety and security to get there,” said Albrecht.
The fire has many impacts on faculty, staff and students who use Fox Hall and its resources. The Student Accessibility Office has been moved to Priest Hall, a former freshman dorm. Additionally, many students used the GIS lab due to its more powerful computers that are needed to run GIS software. “I was initially very worried because it meant myself and other students could potentially lose a semester worth of work,” said Charlie Beams ’25, who is doing an independent study using GIS. “The science library staff and it are working around the clock to make sure our academic projects aren’t interrupted which I really appreciate,” continued Beams.
In addition to the physical spaces being damaged personal items of faculty, staff and students have also been affected. According to an email sent out on behalf of President Morris faculty and staff will be given time to get personal and work items they need from Fox Hall. “I picked up my backpack from the safety and security office the next morning said Emma Palumbo ’25. “As soon as I unzipped the zipper, a strong smell of smoke escaped from the backpack,” continued Palumbo.
Due to the damage caused by the fire the administration is expecting that Fox Hall will be closed for the rest of the semester.