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NEWS
Water main break causes evacuation at Old Main
Water main break causes evacuation at Old Main
The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON -- Marshall University's landmark building was evacuated Saturday afternoon after what was initially reported as an explosion at Old Main turned out to be a broken water line.
Bill Bissett, chief of staff to the president of Marshall, said a sprinkler pipe that is fed from the main water line broke just before 3 p.m. He said it was to be repaired by Saturday night, and Old Main would be open Sunday for student services for financial aid, registrar, bursar and admissions.
The call to 911 originally came in as a possible explosion, but Marshall University Police officer Chris Burgess said he walked the halls of the entire building and found no evidence.
"I walked the building and didn't see or smell anything," he said, adding that it was an employee who pulled the fire alarm that led to a few dozen employees and students being evacuated.
The Huntington Fire Department responded to the call and found the burst water line and a large puddle of water in the basement. Bissett said standing water did hit a furnace, but that was cleared while repairs were made.
The evacuation occurred in the midst of Marshall's Welcome Weekend, when students return to campus to begin the fall semester.
"We don't see this impacting university services or interfering with classes starting Monday," Bissett said.
