Black construction tarp sparks fire scare

Sophomore Bryan Peck evacuated his communication class from the second floor of the Cathedral of… Sophomore Bryan Peck evacuated his communication class from the second floor of the Cathedral of Learning Wednesday afternoon.

“Nobody thinks it’s a big deal … It’s the biggest academic building,” he said, as the class of more than 10 students gathered on the William Pitt Union patio for an alternative learning location.

Rumors of flames coming from close to the top of the 42-floor Cathedral spread across campus late yesterday afternoon.

But the Cathedral of Learning was not going up in flames — in fact, there weren’t any flames involved in the scene at all.

Pitt spokesman John Harvith confirmed that the alarm was actually caused by “some sort of tarp reflecting light” that workers had put up on the floor in question, which is currently undergoing construction.

He said he was unsure about what the floor was used for before renovations began, but a plaque still hanging on one untouched wall pointed to a “Research and Cost Accounting Receptionist” office that has since moved to Thackeray Hall.

Peck said that his brother called him when he was on his way to class and reported the possible fire.

He shared the news when he reached the class, and just after its 4:30 p.m. start time, he and his classmates were outside again.

The class continued on the patio, with some of the students’ necks craned toward the 31st floor’s rectangular windows that appeared black when not struck by sunlight. Perhaps the black was smoke, some classmates suggested.

Aside from those outside, rumors also lit up the inside of the Cathedral.

Matt Schultz, the receptionist at the Honors College, said he had heard talk of yellow caution tape flapping a few floors below that resembled flames.

Around 4 p.m., he received a phone call from a television news station asking about a fire. Schultz said he took a minute to look around to confirm the fire-free space on the 36th floor and reported that there was no fire to the news source.

“It must have been really convincing,” Schultz said.