by Jaclyn Roco
Staff Writer
Residents of the Oaks F building were forced to evacuate their rooms on Sunday after the basement was flooded due to a malfunctioning fire sprinkler, the La Verne Fire Department said.
The sprinkler was deactivated in room F106 at approximately 5:45 p.m. Hazardous chemicals were released, while the water damaged most of the property within the room.
Nathan Chabolla was present when the fire sprinkler went off in his room.
“The sprinkler just nailed me in the face,” he said. “It just sucks because everything’s ruined in my room and the rest of the rooms flooded from this one sprinkler.”
Chabolla said it was strange that only one sprinkler went off out of the four in his room.
“There were no smoke detectors or blinking lights that warned me. I was getting ready to leave and I was just walking out the door.
“Then I heard the main alarm outside when the water hit me,” Chabolla said.
Sergio Rojas, the other resident of F106, said he was very surprised when Chabolla told him what happened.
“I wasn’t there when the sprinkler went off, but I heard the fire alarm and I thought someone pulled it. I was at a friend’s room when my roommate came and informed me of the news.
“He was dressed in someone else’s clothes and there was black stuff on his face. Everything was drenched in our room.
“I was bummed. I couldn’t sleep in my own room, I had to ask people for clothes, some stuff got stolen, and my books and notes were damaged. At least I managed to catch back up with my school work,” Rojas said.
Chabolla was also depressed by the situation.
“I just want to be reimbursed for my stuff that was ruined,” he said.
Besides being forced from their rooms that night, Chabolla said that one of his friends was injured.
“My friend Daryl got electrocuted when he grabbed the DVD player. It was still plugged in, but he was trying to save it,” he said.
Representatives for Housing could not be reached for comment, but Chabolla said he was informed by Housing that he would be put up by ULV at the Red Roof Inn, in San Dimas, for the remainder of the semester.
“Now I have to move the rest of my stuff again,” Chabolla said. “I’m staying at my friend’s room right now.”
Chabolla and Rojas were also asked by Housing to create a list of items that were damaged with estimated costs, they said.
Some of the items included a DVD player, VCR, telephone, karaoke machine, computer, printer and various school supplies and books.
Chabolla and Rojas estimated the cost at more than $1000. This includes clothing that was stolen from their room during the incident.
Chabolla did not ask to be reimbursed for the injury he sustained when he was sprayed in the face.
Rojas said that he was contacted immediately by the La Verne Fire Department after the incident.
He was given strict instructions to tell Chabolla, to go to the hospital to get checked.
“They didn’t tell us what the black stuff was on his face. They only said it was dangerous,” Rojas said.
Chabolla, however, did not go to the hospital. He said he did not feel it was necessary.
“It really hurt before,” Chabolla said.
The incident is still under investigation by both ULV’s Housing and the fire department.
The fire sprinkler was brought to a lab to be examined further, Chabolla said.
