Fire damages total more than $4.5 M
Tuesday, August 17, 2010 at 5:55PM By Anna Douglas
English instructor Bryan Ghent, who had an office in the Bancroft Annex for two years, is sharing an office with another professor who was also displaced by the fire in Owens Hall. Photo by Kathleen BrownPreliminary damage estimates for the March 6 Owens fire are more than $4.5 million. It will cost $1.5 million to stabilize and clean up Owens Hall and at least another $3 million to restore it, according to a Winthrop press release.
Investigators with the Rock Hill Fire Department said the fire originated on a small section of the flat roof on Owens Hall. The cause is still under investigation.
Damage to contents is still being calculated as crews are examining more than 2,000 electronic items to see if they can be restored.
Previously The Johnsonian reported that university officials expect to fund the majority of the restoration effort with money from insurance on the building. The state carries insurance on university property for Winthrop.
Bancroft Hall, also affected by fire containment efforts, opened for the return of students to classes on Monday.
Professors with offices in the Bancroft Annex, however, are still separated from their office space.
English instructor Bryan Ghent, who had been in his office in the Bancroft Annex for two years, is now sharing an office with another English instructor who was also displaced by the fire.
“I was expecting to lose everything,” he said, “but in the end I actually got back much more than I thought I would.”
Faculty used the Margaret Nance TV room and Dacus Library as office space prior to spring break.
Two popular computer labs were also lost as a result of the fire. Patrice Bruneau, director of technology services, e-mailed students Tuesday encouraging them to use other on-campus computer labs.Computer lab times vary depending on exams, holidays and University breaks.
Some labs are reserved on an ad hoc and recurring basis
Below is a general list of open lab times:
• Phelp’s lab is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Both labs in Dacus Library are open Sunday 1 p.m.-midnight, Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-midnight, Friday 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Both labs in Thurmond are open Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. and Friday 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Withers’ lab is available Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-10 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
• The West Center’s lab is open Sunday 1-9 p.m., Monday 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday 8 a.m. -3:30 p.m., Wednesday 8 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.-2 p.m. The lab is not open on Saturdays.
