UPDATE: Student Center dining resumes operations
February 10, 2016
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - All retail and dining operations in the Baker Pattillo Student Center have returned to normal following a minor fire that damaged the facility Tuesday night.
No injuries were reported as a result of the fire that activated a single fire sprinkler in the small kitchen area of the first-floor food court. The building's fire suppression system was activated, and the building was evacuated at approximately 9 p.m. The University Police Department and Nacogdoches Fire Department responded immediately, according to Dr. Steve Westbrook, vice president for university affairs.
"There was only minor damage from the fire, and the smoke was cleared by the smoke evacuation system," Westbrook said.
When the sprinkler system in the building was reactivated, a broken pipe on the third floor caused flooding in the area of several student organization offices. This flooding then affected the second and first floors of that area of the building.
Because of these two events, retail food services on the first floor atrium of the building were closed until the areas were cleaned and inspected. This included Urban Bricks Pizza, Sushic, the C-Store, Great American Cookies, Chick-fil-A and Marble Slab Creamery. Ongoing clean up and restoration of other portions of the building will continue for an undetermined amount of time.
The cause of the fire is being investigated.