Andy Yang, News Editor Adshayah Sathiaseelan, News Editor Jessica Kim, News Intern
A false fire alarm evacuated the University Community Centre in the middle of Canada’s first FIFA World Cup soccer game against Belgium Wednesday.
According to Shannon Byron, the public information coordinator at the London Fire Department, the incident “was a mechanical false alarm in [Western’s] fire system … [with] no fire and no injuries.”
Outside the evacuated UCC at 2 p.m., students spread conspiracy theories that the alarm was pulled intentionally by a rabid soccer fan in an attempt to gain a coveted seat in the Spoke, where the game was being live-streamed.
“Someone had to have done it. There’s no way. This is too much of a coincidence,” said first-year engineering student Aidan Bugler.
Bugler was at the Spoke watching the game with fellow first-year engineering students Ryan Pinel and Gabriel Santos when the alarm went off.
“I think someone was trying to get a spot at the Spoke. It was packed so they pulled the fire alarm to try and get in,” said Santos.
At 2:16 p.m., people wearing Building Emergency Team vests told students and staff they could go back in the UCC. The 15 minutes cost students the chance to watch Canada’s missed penalty kick on the big screen.
Once inside, students crowded outside the Spoke in the UCC atrium waiting for the sliding security gate to open, chanting “we want beer.” One student held a tablet in the air for the crowd to watch the World Cup game. The Spoke reopened at 2:22 p.m. with the crowd of students slowly moving in.
Source: Western Gazette
Fire trucks at the University Community Centre following fire alarm, Nov. 23, 2022.
Students gather outside after evacuating the University Community Centre, Nov. 23, 2022.
