A small fire occurred in the Erb Memorial Union Ballroom Sunday afternoon, causing a brief evacuation.
The fire started around 4:30 p.m. during a play performed by the Sexual Wellness Advocacy Team (SWAT) at IntroDUCKtion, an orientation for incoming freshmen. A stage light was in contact with a backstage curtain, and it was running too hot, according to IntroDUCKtion coordinator Angelyn Hall, who was in attendance for the play. The curtain caught on fire but was quickly extinguished by an IntroDUCKtion supervisor.
“I’ve never run a show with that happening,” Hall said.
A Eugene Fire truck and several University of Oregon Police officers arrived as the EMU was being evacuated. The curtain was still smoldering when law enforcement arrived, according to a UOPD officer. People were allowed to reenter the EMU about 30 minutes after evacuation, and maintenance workers recommended nobody enter the ballroom due to smoke.
SWAT finished its play in the EMU Amphitheater while the fire fighters and police officers tended to the fire. Sunday marked SWAT’s final play this summer for IntroDUCKtion, which concludes Monday.
School just caught fire. Welcome to introDUCKtion. #callmeaduck
— Brittnee✨ (@BrittneeDawn) August 3, 2014
You will for sure remember your #IntroDUCKtion experience. RT @BrittneeDawn: School just caught fire. Welcome to introDUCKtion. #callmeaduck
— UO Orientation (@UOorientation) August 4, 2014
EMU is being evacuated because a curtain caught on fire during the SWAT play at IntrDUCKtion. Fire is small. pic.twitter.com/0UcKalSlEt
— Emerald (@DailyEmerald) August 3, 2014
They moved us outside cuz fire #callmeaduck pic.twitter.com/OuWeFSNWFZ
— Elizabeth Hill (@Elizabeth_hhill) August 3, 2014
The SWAT show goes on in the EMU Amphitheater after a curtain caught on fire in the EMU Ballroom: pic.twitter.com/j0qdSEQszL
— Victor Flores (@vflores415) August 3, 2014