(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - During the recent cold weather, a sprinkler pipe froze and burst in the Zeigler Building at 2600 7th Avenue on the UAS Ketchikan Campus, resulting in a large amount of water travelling through corrugated roofing panels to various locations on the first and second floor of the building. 

Water making its way through the corrugated roofing panels and draining to spaces below flooded areas of the UAS Ketchikan Library, the Student Center and a number of offices and hallways. Approximately 5,000 UAS Ketchikan Library books, a number of computers and monitors, important documents, office furniture, carpet flooring and ceiling tile were subject to various levels of water damage. 

Quoting a Feburary 17th news release, UAS Ketchikan has concluded damage inventories and acquired repair/replacement cost estimates. "We are working diligently to make repairs to the building. We anticipate these repairs will be completed within two weeks."  

Ketchikan Fire Department Chief Scott Brainard and his teams responded in record time to the alarm callout and provided help above and beyond in assisting in the initial water extraction and debris removal procedures. According to Business Manager Chris Hoyt, their quick response and assistance proved an incredible help during a very difficult event for the campus. Fire Marshal Gretchen O’Sullivan's on-the-spot responses to short- and long-term solutions for systems repair and building fire protection options was greatly appreciated and very helpful said Hoyt.

Hoyt said Hummingbird Cleaner’s, owned by Paul Bermudez, crew responded to the emergency within minutes and also quickly acting to remove water and debris. Alaska Marine Lines quickly provided the freezer container to get the books into the best possible environment to save as many as possible.

While the UAS Ketchikan Ziegler building is currently closed due to ongoing construction, we continue to conduct classes and provide testing services for students and the public as usual.

Students needing assistance can still contact us at our main desk by calling 228-4511 and students and the public who need assistance from our library staff can call 228-4567.

Edited By Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News:

University of Southeast Alaska Ketchikan
https://www.uas.alaska.edu/ketchikan

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