Features and Opinions Editor

A fire alarm displaced approximately 150 CSU Bakersfield students from their classes in the Education building on Sept. 23.

The alarm triggered at approximately 1 p.m. and ended about 15 minutes later allowing students to return to class.

An officer with University Police eventually emerged and elaborated on what had happened. The UPD officer said that the culprit for the fire alarm was smoking french fries in a toaster oven that had smoldered and not caught fire.

“It happens,” said the officer, noting that nothing malicious was at play.

Students filled the breezeways and sidewalks around the building while faculty volunteers kept unknowing passers out of the vicinity. Christina Chavez, academic adviser for arts and humanities, was one of those faculty volunteers helping while waiting for the all clear from the fire alarm. She gave her thoughts about what had happened.

“Sometimes it is burnt popcorn,” she said.

Chavez noted that there is no way to turn the alarm off and all clear signals must be given before the alarm shuts off.