UMBC police are currently investigating a small fire that began after a flammable object was thrown into Harbor Hall's fourth floor north and west wing trash room, triggering the room's sprinkler and the building's fire alarm.

Harbor Hall residents were driven outside at 2:29 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 29 by the fire alarm's blare. Fourth floor West residents immediately suspected trouble when their Resident Assistant prevented them from exiting through the elevator lobby, adjacent to the trash room, and instead made everyone exit via the fire door on the far end of the floor.

Once outside, dazed students were herded across Center Road toward Erickson Field by Residential Life staff members. UMBC police responded within minutes, scattering residents from the road. Seven minutes after the alarm first sounded, two fire trucks arrived on the scene.

While fire fighters rushed inside, students – many not dressed for the morning's damp chill – shivered, tried to determine what was happening, or simply curled up on the ground to nap.

For almost an hour, no one explained what had happened to the waiting students. Thus, rumors flew. One resident thought that an elevator mechanical error had caused the problem, while others thought that there had been a water main break. Many expressed hope that morning classes would be canceled if the problem was serious. A Residential Life staff member's comment, "The sprinkler system worked like it was supposed to," conjured images of flooded rooms and ruined electronic devices for the already anxious Harbor residents.

Track and field runner and Harbor resident Cortney Crouse said she initially thought the fire alarm was a hoax. Standing outside in her bare feet, she lamented that she might not be able to retrieve her uniform and shoes before the bus left for a track meet at 10 a.m. Crouse said the lack of information worried her.

Around 3:30 a.m., Harbor Hall's Community Director, Kia Wood, grabbed the attention of dozing and distracted students by shouting into a bullhorn. Though she did not announce the cause of the fire alarm's activation, Wood did indicate that residents would most likely not be permitted to return to the dormitories that night.

After RAs met with Residential Life administrators a few times, the RAs gathered their residents and explained that due to water and possibly structural damage, Harbor Hall would remain closed for an indefinite period of time. Residents were instructed to either spend the night in an alternate location if they had friends on campus or spend the remainder of the evening in Lecture Halls I and II.

Once residents told their RA where they were planning to stay and provided a contact phone number – if they remembered to bring their phone outside with them – the flock of students dissipated.

Freshman Andrew Holter spent the night in Lecture Hall II. He said, "Given the circumstances, I think it was unreasonable to expect any better accommodations." He added that most students tried to sleep as best they could, though the lights were on and the movie Jumanji was playing loudly in the lecture hall.

After checking with Residential Life staff that their room had not been badly damaged, Harbor residents were permitted to return to their rooms at approximately 8 a.m.

Approximately a dozen rooms in the north and west wings bordering the elevator suffered water damage. ResLife workers accompanied these rooms' residents to assess damages and explain possible courses of action. The students were instructed to keep belongings off of the wet carpet, wash and dry any wet clothing with the $10 Residential Life put on their campus cards, and keep all doors locked.

The card readers that provide student access to Harbor Hall's west wing were broken Friday morning. Thus, as residents trickled back to their rooms, they found every door in that part of the building propped open. In order to prevent thefts, returning residents were warned to keep belongings behind locked doors.

The elevator providing transportation to the north and west wings was also found to be broken Friday morning. North wing residents' campus cards were reprogrammed to allow them to use a previously restricted elevator, while west wing residents resorted to using the stairs to reach upper levels in the dormitory.

Residents were extremely relieved to be back, despite the water damage. Crouse was able to return to her room around 8:30 and made it to her track meet on time. However, she said the entire experience was very stressful and frustrating. On the other hand, Holter said he thought the night was handled well, especially given the circumstances.

"When we came back…I figured I'd get a few hours of sleep and be fine but I ended up sleeping until 2 p.m.," he said.

For students like Holter who might have missed morning classes due to a lack of sleep, Residential Life suggested in an e-mail that residents contact their academic dean, since "all deans have been made aware of the situation."

Maintenance is still ongoing in the water damaged rooms. Immediately after the sprinkler was turned off, housekeeping and facilities staff members set to work. Large fans were run around the clock to dry sodden carpets and walls, dehumidifiers were placed in exceptionally damp rooms, and sagging ceiling tiles were removed.

Holter's room on the second floor is directly adjacent to the elevator, and thus very close to the torrent of water that must have poured from the fourth floor sprinkler. However, he was surprised at how little damage his room sustained, given its position, and applauded maintenance crews' efforts.

Christopher Silberholz contributed to this article.