Updated: November 16, 2009
On November 12, 2009, at 7pm in the Student Union a town meeting for Joe West Hall residents was held to discuss the fires that occurred earlier that morning in Joe West Hall. Close to 300 residents attended the meeting where speakers included Veril Phillips, Vice President for Student Affairs; Cathy Busalacchi, Associate Vice President for Campus Life; Victor Culatta, Director of University Housing Services; Lieutenant Frank Belcastro, University Police Department Special Operations and Kevin Conant, Battalion Chief for the San Jose Fire Department.
At the meeting it was shared that two small fires were started on the 5th and 7th floors of Joe West Hall: The first at approximately 8:55am on the 7th floor, and the second at approximately 9:51am on the 5th floor. No injuries occurred and the building was successfully evacuated. The cause of the fires is still under investigation and the University Police Department is following up on potential leads.
To report information regarding the fires, individuals are encouraged to contact any of the following:
The following fire safety tip and reminders were also shared with the audience:
Residents who were unable to attend the town meeting, should see their Resident Advisor.
This morning at approximately 9am San Jose Fire Department responded to two small fires in Joe West Hall. Both fires were extinguished and no major injuries occurred. Staff responded quickly and residents were successfully evacuated from the building. Campus Police are investigating the cause of the fires. A Joe West Hall community meeting is being held this evening at 7pm in the Student Union to discuss the incidents and answer any questions.
University Housing Services and the campus take resident safety very seriously. A number of precautions are taken and measures implemented to ensure that we provide a safe living environment and are prepared to respond to incidents such as those that occurred this morning.
All of our facilities are equipped with life safety systems that are inspected on a regular basis to ensure that they meet all city and state codes. The Residential Life staff that live in the buildings are trained on emergency procedures and receive refresher training throughout their employment. The staff also plans educational programs throughout the year that address issues such as fire safety. In addition, emergency procedures and safety tips are shared with residents during mandatory floor meetings. On the back of each resident room door is a list of emergency phone numbers and evacuation information. Fire drills are also conducted once each semester.
Any information regarding the incidents that occurred this morning can reported at www.mysafecampus.com or directly to the University Police Department at 408-924-2222. To make an anonymous report, please call 408-924-2236.
For those who are unable to attend tonight's community meeting, please see your Resident Advisor. Notes from the meeting will be posted on the website
Date: November 3, 2009
Joe West Hall has been reopened after the San José Fire Department responded to reports of smoke inside the building. A housekeeper pulled an alarm after noticing smoke at approximately 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 3. The structure was evacuated, no one was injured, and damages were minimal. Preliminary reports suggest the cause of the blaze was a piece of paper ignited on an upper floor. Smoke from the flame circulated through the building via the elevator shaft and HVAC system. Joe West is home to approximately 500 residents.