University authorities are continuing to investigate Housing-required power allocators possibly connected to a fire last Thursday in Metcalf dormitory.
Last week, first-year Architecture student Beth Hughes said she reported a small fire near her room's power allocator at about 9:30 p.m. The fire went out by itself after 10 to 15 seconds, she said, leaving a "horrible burnt plastic smell" and what fellow Metcalf resident and first-year Engineering student Judy Tat described as "a large circle of burnt wall."
According to Hughes, a University fire marshal removed the power allocator -- a device used to share power among two utilities -- from the outlet, but the cause of the fire was not determined that night. Power allocators, required by University Housing when students use both a microwave and refrigerator, are sold in the University Bookstore and are supplied by Absocold, a Richmond, Ind. firm that supplies universities across the nation, according to University Bookstore Executive Director Jon Kates.
After being provided with the allocator in question from Hughes' room, Kates said University officials attempted to ascertain the cause of the fire. He noted that at first, many possible explanations for the fire existed, including problems with the outlet, problems with the electric wiring, problems with the receptacle, operator error and, lastly, problems with the allocator.
Following the officials' investigation, however, Kates said Housing officials determined there was nothing wrong in Hughes' dormitory. That left only operator error and the possibility of an allocator malfunction, Kates added.
When contacted, Absocold denied that an allocator could be involved in the fire because of a flame retardant, Kates said, adding that he is not entirely convinced by this claim.
"I'm not completely satisfied with their explanation," Kates said, noting that he believes the possible problem should be investigated further.
Absocold sales representative John Wilson maintained that the product has a very low failure rate and could have been misused. Wilson cited using oversized refrigerators and microwaves or plugging the wrong items into the outlets as consumer errors that are unrelated to quality control and manufacturing at Absocold.
Kates similarly said operator error is a possibility, but added that the allocators are easy to use.
"Unfortunately -- and I hate to say it this way -- but it's idiot-proof," he said.Because of these doubts and concerns, Kates said, University officials have sent the allocator to Absocold for further examination. The incident has also revealed a need to educate students -- especially resident advisors -- about the proper use of power allocators, he added.
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