Blown compressor, fire temporarily closes T’s

T’s is temporarily closed after a blown compressor caused a small fire shortly before 11 a.m. Thursday.

Nobody was hurt, but the restaurant has shut down for cleaning. Director of Dining Services Todd Empanger said T’s will dispose of any food that was out in the open and uncovered.

A compressor blew in T's Thursday morning, resulting in an evacuation. Director of Environmental Health and Safety Colin Brownlow said he hopes T's will be open again within the hour. (Grace Pastoor/TommieMedia) — Public Safety officers stand in T’s after staff had to immediately evacuate employees and customers Thursday morning. A compressor blew in T’s, which has temporarily closed the restaurant. (Grace Pastoor/TommieMedia)

Director of Environmental Health and Safety Colin Brownlow said overheated oil in a refrigeration unit compressor caused the fire.

“The compressors have oil in them; the compressor started to malfunction,” Brownlow said. “It overheated; the oil began to burn.”

Sophomore Kendrik Brewster said he saw a “huge flame” near the refrigerator that holds yogurt and sushi. Drewster said all workers were evacuated immediately.

“It was coming out of the bottom, and then they just shut everything off,” Brewster said. “It was arm’s length; it was big.”

“With any luck it’ll be up and running in about an hour or so,” Brownlow said.

Grace Pastoor and Molly Sigler contributed to this report.

One Reply to “Blown compressor, fire temporarily closes T’s”

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