The College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science is still reeling from the damage caused by a fire in Burt Hall that took place at the end of fall term, and subsequent efforts to evaluate and repair the damaged portion of the building reach far and wide across the university.

The fire started in a scientific microwave, in a laboratory on the second floor of Burt 2, on Friday, Nov. 30. The “2” indicates the specific section of Burt Hall, of which there are four.

According to Jim Patton, fire prevention officer at Oregon State University, Burt Hall,as well as a number of other older buildings around campus, are not equipped with fire sprinklers, which could have helped mitigate the damage done by the fire. Fire codes and other safety regulations in place at the time of these buildings’ construction did not mandate the inclusion of fire sprinklers and they have not since been updated. Current regulations allow these buildings to be grandfathered in because of these differences, making the buildings technically in compliance with the current rules.

Steve Clark, vice president of University Relations and Marketing, says fire sprinklers are just one part of effective building safety measures.

“Sprinklers are very valuable, but they are not an exclusive measure that contributes to a building’s safety,” Clark said in an email.“Maintenance of a building and the safe storage, maintenance and use of flammable materials, including paper supplies or fabric, as well as the care and use of electronic equipment are important safety measures. So is proper emergency training of staff and students who work in and frequent campus. Safety and sprinklers are not an either or.”

According to Patton, the fire was thought to be extinguished as firefighters arrived on the scene in a single engine. However, thick, black smoke rising from the building’s chemical hood stacks and the chemical nature of the fire’s origin indicated that cause for continued concern. As the severity of the fire became apparent, additional fire engines arrived on the scene for a total of three or four.

Ultimately, the fire was contained to the lab. Patton said that the microwave from which the fire originated was “over packed,” by the firefighters, meaning that it was packed into a sealed, secured container so that it could burn out safely.

The rest of the lab was, according to Patton, effectively incinerated after it reached “flashover temperature,” meaning that the room’s temperature rose to approximately 1,200-1,400 degrees Fahrenheit, causing the entire lab’s contents to rise to their temperature of ignition and subsequently burn.

There were no fire-related injuries. According to Patton, one firefighter endured a minor wrist injury after working to help contain the fire.

However, the damage done to Burt Hall extends far beyond the lab in which the fire originated. The fire also resulted in water and smoke damage to different parts of the building.

According to Jason Balderston, Facilities and Operations Manager for CEOAS, the water from the firefighters’ hoses and water from pipes, both domestic and lab-specific deionized water lines, ruptured during the fire and flooded the entire second floor. The water then seeped down to and flooded the first floor, then seeped down to and flooded the basement.The movement and accumulation of the water has also resulted in mold growth in many of the building’s wall cavities. Additionally, the smoke from the fire penetrated the third floor of the building, causing damage to scientific equipment and a great deal of soot accumulation.

“The damage is really extensive,” Balderston said.