Residents of Mercury Point were evacuated on Monday, following a fire that broke out in the kitchen of a fifth floor flat, re- ports KATHERINE ROMERO. Students waited anxiously out- side as a number of fire fighters rushed to the scene. This is not the first time the university halls have fallen vic- tim to a fire. Last February, So- lent halls suffered three fires in just five days. Speaking about the incident, General Manager of Mercury Point Clare Ody released the fol- lowing statement: “At 3.17pm on Monday, 28 February, 2011, a fire broke out in a kitchen on the fifth floor of B-block at Mercury Point. The students who were in the flat at the time raised the alarm, and woke their sleeping flatmate as they evacuated the building. The students reacted in a logical and quick manner, closing the fire doors behind them as they left. “The whole of B-block was evacuated quickly and safely, and the fire brigade arrived on site within minutes of being called. A total of seven fire engines at- tended the call to Mercury Point. “Evacuated residents from B- block and A-block were accom- modated in the common room of Deanery Halls whilst the fire brigade fought the fire and en- sured the building was safe. The fire was contained within the kitchen, and did not cause dam- age to the rest of the flat or build- ing. “All students were allowed back into Mercury Point within two hours of the alarm being raised, and no one was hurt. “The Mercury Point team are appreciative of the efficiency and effort of Hampshire Fire & Res- cue, and the support received from both the Solent University Accommodation Office and staff at Deanery Halls of Residence.” Students on campus were in- formed of the incident via Twit- ter, thanks to a prompt tweet by SU President Dan Prendergast. He said: “The idea of using Twitter, our website and Face- book is one that we use in order to keep as many students as pos- sible who follow or friend us on- line up-to-date with as much as possible being a source of infor- mation and advice. If there’s something that students need to know about, Solent Students’ Union will do its best to get that message out there. “Students were advised that a safe space would be provided at each of the other student resi- dences until they were told it was safe to return.” Emily Holding was one of the students evacuated. Speaking with us shortly after, she said: “B-block fire alarm went off and they were all evacuated, which isn’t really unusual, as the fire alarms go off all the time, so we didn’t think anything of it. “Then when we got outside all the staff were really panicking and trying to get everyone away from the building. “At first I didn’t really get scared or anything, but then when seven fire engines turned up, plus several police cars, I started to realise it must actually be really serious.” onsolent i Halls evacuated after kitchen fire Students reacted in a logical and quick manner Clare Ody ‘ Your weekly paper from third year Journalism students at Solent University FRIDAY, 4 MARCH, 2011 ON NEWS www.i-on-solent.com IONLIFE i ON LIFE i Scene South success continues PAGE 3 On a Carnage mission PAGE 5 Equestrian elation PAGE 11 STUDENT!RESIDENCES:!Fifth-floor drama causes havoc for those living in Mercury Point Put-out operation: Fire crew tackles the fire and evacuates Mercury Point residents (below) Your View: Readers tell us what should be built on the new Uni site PAGE 10 ON SPORT i Issue no4