The Dec. 12 fire at O'Donnell Hall which forced the closing of the building for the last week of the fall semester is worse than first thought. When the fire damage was first accessed, New Mexico State University officials said most of the building would be back in use for the spring semester. Now, after finding unforeseen damages throughout the building, all classes and departments have been moved elsewhere on campus. Because of smoke damage, the air conditioning duct work is being replaced throughout the building and all furniture and upholstered fabric is being cleaned, he added.
Early reports lead to an electric oscillating fan as the cause of the early morning fire.
Captain Chris Bencomo of the NMSU Fire Department said when the fan's motor froze up, sparks flew and the fire began shortly after. An official report from the State Fire Marshal's office is expected later this month, Bencomo said. Woods said NMSU firefighters were alerted to the fire around 5 a.m. on Dec. 12 when a police officer was checking on a security alarm that had gone off within the building. Because of the amount of smoke damage found, Woods said he believes the fire actually began much earlier in the morning. When the building was constructed in the mid-60s, it was not required to have fire detection system, Woods said.