Students evacuated from Schauerman Library after false alarm
Students exit the Schauerman Library after a fire alarm was accidentally set off by Facilities and Planning Department employees. The alarm was shut off in three minutes and the Los Angeles County Fire Department was not dispatched. Ryan Farrell/The Union
Students were evacuated after two El Camino College classified employees accidentally triggered a fire alarm while painting in the Schauerman Library on Tuesday, Sept. 17, authorities said.
El Camino College Police Department Sgt. Gary Robertson said the alarms began at 1:10 p.m. and were turned off at 1:13 p.m. after they were confirmed to have not been caused by a fire or any other emergency.
Robert Brobst, assistant director of ECC Facilities and Planning said that a fire alarm on the second floor of the library was activated and it worked as intended since students evacuated quickly.
“The alarms worked as they should and [the] students evacuated when they went off,” Brobst said.
He added that the classified employees who set off the alarms are painters with the Facilities and Planning Department.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department was not dispatched to the scene.
Update Wednesday, Sept. 18, 12:05 a.m., Article updated for clarification purposes.
