An electrical fire in the Central Grounds Parking Garage resulted in the garage's evacuation late Friday afternoon, while the Charlottesville Fire Department, University Police and Facilities Management employees controlled the fire within the structure.
Three fire engines under Raymond James, battalion chief of the Charlottesville Fire Department, arrived at 3:56 p.m. to the garage located behind Newcomb Hall. An electrical wire with the cold-piping shorted out, which caused a fire on its surrounding insulation, he said.
"We were able to control the fire with just a water extinguisher," James said.
The fire department also contained the blaze by removing surrounding insulation.
University Police handled traffic control as everyone was evacuated and the parking lot shut down for several minutes.
"We didn't want anybody to touch something and get an electrical shock," James said.
Building personnel from facilities management located the breaker to turn off the building's electricity.
"Once they cut the electrical power off, the pipe was not energized," James said. "We already had the fire out."
No vehicles or people were harmed in the incident.
"The only damage was to the insulation and the electrical line which shorted out," James said.
Chris Greene, system controls operator of Facilities Management, explained the dual warning inherent in the University's fire alarms within its buildings. Fire alarms signal both system controls and the page operator who calls the fire department.
"There are two points of contact so the alarm can't just go to one site," Greene said.
This ensures the proper response, Greene added.
The parking garage, which can hold 400 student and visitor vehicles on three stories, reopened after a few minutes and was safe for occupancy for the following day's home football game.
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