Update on Last Night’s Atwood Residence Hall Fire

Dear Harvey Mudd Community,

I am writing to share information regarding a fire that occurred last evening, shortly after 7 p.m., in a room on the second floor of the Atwood Residence Hall. While any emergency on campus is distressing, I want to begin with the most important news: the fire was quickly extinguished, there were no injuries, and all students are safe and have been accounted for.

The health and safety of every member of our community is always our primary concern. To that end, I want to share an update on the measures we have taken to support our students following this incident.

Immediate Response and Cause

Emergency responders from the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the City of Claremont, and the Claremont Police Department arrived rapidly to contain the situation. We are very grateful to the city and our emergency responders for their quick actions, which safeguarded our students and limited the damage to Atwood Residence Hall.

The source of the fire has been identified as an electric skateboard battery. In the coming weeks, as we assess this situation and our collective response, we will be discussing what steps we can take to minimize the risk of these types of fires.

Support for Students

Our teams in the Division of Student Affairs (DSA) and Facilities and Maintenance (F&M) were on site immediately and worked directly with the students whose living spaces were impacted by fire or smoke. As a result of the fire, 28 students were displaced. We provided alternative accommodations for the displaced students and for one live-on staff member and offered support resources to any student who was shaken by this event.

Other Atwood residents whose rooms were not impacted were allowed to return to the residence hall at around 11 p.m. last night after we received clearance from the fire department and city inspectors. Multiple rooms in the northeast corner of the building have been closed, and we are working with students to make alternative arrangements for housing until repairs can be completed.

Providing Academic Flexibility

We understand that an emergency of this nature disrupts not only living arrangements but also the peace of mind of those impacted. Our VP for Academic Affairs Karl Haushalter has reached out to faculty to request their full support in granting flexibility regarding late or missed coursework for students impacted by this emergency. We want to ensure that our students are free to focus on their immediate safety and well-being without any added academic anxiety.

Expressing Gratitude for Our Community

I would like to express my deep appreciation to the emergency responders who secured the scene so quickly. I am also incredibly grateful to our Campus Safety officers, the DSA staff, and the Facilities & Maintenance team, as well as the faculty and staff members who came to the site after hours to provide immediate care and comfort to our students. Their dedication exemplifies the strength and care of the Harvey Mudd community.

I thank you all for your support, understanding, and care for one another.

Sincerely,

Harriet B. Nembhard
President