D.H. Hill Library was emptied Tuesday around lunch time because of a mistake by contractors, according to Bill Stevenson, University fire marshal.

According to Stevenson, a contractor working in the Atrium forgot to cover up a fire alarm, while cutting steel, which activated the fire alarm.

“The contractor was cutting steel with a torch.  A nearby fire alarm had not been covered up, which was activated and emptied the Atrium and D.H. Hill Library,” Stevenson said.

Stevenson said the University Fire Department approved a temporary disconnect of the fire alarm in certain areas while construction is happening. Contractors are allowed to cover up smoke detectors in specific areas, approved by the University Fire Department.

“We’ve discussed this problem with the contractor to make sure they follow our rules,” Stevenson said.

The fire alarm for the Atrium and D.H. Hill Library are connected, with the control room being in D.H. Hill library, Stevenson said.

“D.H. Hill Library is not a building we want to dump,” Stevenson said.  “There’s students studying for tests and doing homework.”

When an employee with the University Fire Department reached the Atrium, the contractor did not share all the information, Stevenson said.

“My guy didn’t get all the information, which caused him to have to go farther into the building to make sure nothing was really wrong,” Stevenson said.  “There was too long of a delay verifying nothing was wrong.”

Stevenson said the University Fire Department is putting more restrictions on the contractor.

“We’re planning to intensify our visits to the Atrium while the contractors are working,” Stevenson said.