{"id":50501,"date":"2023-03-30T20:58:52","date_gmt":"2023-03-30T19:58:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shefnews.co.uk\/?p=50501"},"modified":"2023-03-30T20:58:52","modified_gmt":"2023-03-30T19:58:52","slug":"students-and-staff-forced-to-evacuate-university-building-following-reports-of-fire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shefnews.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/03\/30\/students-and-staff-forced-to-evacuate-university-building-following-reports-of-fire\/","title":{"rendered":"Students and staff forced to evacuate university building following reports of fire"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Classes were disrupted at the University of Sheffield as students and staff were asked to leave the Sir Robert Hadfield building after reports a fire had broken out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several fire engines from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue were seen outside the building on Portobello Street. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crowds of students and staff who had been in the building gathered nearby on the corner of Mappin Street as they waited to find out whether it was a false alarm and could be allowed back into the building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fire engines were seen with blue lights and sirens on Mappin Street heading to the scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A member of university staff, who did not want to be named, but was helping keep people away from the building said: \u201cThe situation is not that severe. Luckily we were able to evacuate the premises in time.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lily Lilian, 21, a student studying architecture, who was waiting near the building for her lesson to start, said: \u201cThe university staff had swiftly taken control of the situation before any mishaps could have taken place.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou couldn’t see any smoke present in the air but the stench of fire smoke became quite evident as time passed,\u201d said Andreas Petedris, 29, a Philosophy student who was passing by the scene. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel like wherever I go these days in Sheffield, somewhere or something is always on fire here,\u201d said 20-year-old Betty Robins, another student who was evacuated from the Sir Robert Hadfield building and a resident of IQ Brocco Sheffield student accommodation which she explained was attended by the fire service recently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Students and members of staff watching the scenes unfold after being evacuated from the university building<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

With the Easter break approaching there was a mixed reaction to the situation from students; some appeared stressed about their lectures being cancelled due to the potential fire while others expressed relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cI have a pile of assessments to complete before the break ends and my basics are still not clear. I was hoping to get it cleared today but then this happens,\u201d said one student standing outside the building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt will be exam period soon and I don’t know how I will catch up to the lost work,\u201d said Sociology student Marty, 23. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cThat\u2019s one way to end a semester\u201d added 22-year-old engineering student Nayte Summers.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ShefNews approached South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service for comment but at the time of publication it was unknown whether there was a fire or not.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Just spoke to a few firefighters who say no one\u2019s been hurt, and the amount of fire engines is just a precaution with it being a tall building. #SHEFFIELD<\/a><\/p>— Laurence Griffin (@LaurenceGriffF1) March 30, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>