Email This StoryOverloads or control problems may have caused elevator fire
Feb. 20, 2008
By Christina Kruse
Reporter
An oil fire in Draper Academic Building trapped eight students and one faculty member in an elevator on Monday, raising questions regarding elevator safety. Students and faculty evacuated Draper after the fire alarm sounded around 11:45 a.m.
The evacuation was due to a small, oil-type fire that started in the basement near the elevator area. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The students and faculty member were stuck between the second and third floors of Draper.
According to the Schindler Elevator Services Web site, there are two types of elevator systems: traction and hydraulic.
Older types of elevators most likely operate on a hydraulic system. A jack located below the elevator propels the unit. A pump moves oil into the jack, causing it to raise the elevator. When an elevator descends, the oil is returned to the system's storage tank, according to the Web site.
"We suspect there was a small pinhole leak in the hydraulic hose," Leigh Ann Moffett, fire marshal for Baylor's risk management department.
Currently, elevators across campus have an emergency phone that connects directly to the Baylor police department, which is open on weekends. Baylor police will respond to a call made from the elevator, but will only extract the stranded person or persons in the case of an emergency. Baylor police would have tried to pry open the elevator doors "had there been a fire that seemed to be threatening" Baylor Police Chief Jim Doak said.
In a non-emergency, the responding officers will contact the contracted elevator maintenance company, Schindler Elevator Services, Doak said.
On Monday, nine people were caught in one elevator, possibly exceeding the weight limit for the elevator.
"Different issues could contribute to this situation, including control problems, power shutdowns and overloads," Director of Facilities Management Don Bagby said. However, "it is unusual for elevators to be overloaded."
Janet Norden, a Spanish instructor, was stuck in an elevator in Draper almost 20 years ago on a Saturday morning. Norden was stranded for about 45 minutes between floor levels until someone in Old Main heard the alarm and decided to investigate the noise.
Norden was told that the elevator malfunctioned because of the way it was installed.
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