Sprinkler damages Dobbs Pavilion
The Columbia Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at Dobbs Pavillion at about 5:30 Wednesday evening.
After arriving on the scene, fire fighters evacuated the dining hall. The fire alarm was sounding because a sprinkler head had activated over the pasta cooker in the kitchen. High heat caused the activation, not a fire, a City of Columbia news release stated
The sprinkler head ran for about half an hour before crews could disable it. The crews then helped the staff at Dobbs remove the water and dry the floor, the release stated. Dobbs has been shut down for clean up and Campus Environmental Health and Safety was scheduled to evaluate the kitchen area Wednesday evening.
Fixing the damage caused by the sprinkler will cost an estimated $1,000.
According to the news release, Assistant Fire Marshal Davison said the kitchen had been having issues with its exhaust fan for the pasta cooker. This malfunction and the elevated temperatures of the steam from the pasta cooker activated the sprinkler head.