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Building evacuated for fire

A coffee maker that caught on fire caused firefighters to evacuate the Mechanical Engineering building and reroute traffic for an hour Friday.

Redondo Drive was blocked off from Logan Hall to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue for an hour, causing South Lot shuttles and Albuquerque city buses to find another route.

Capt. James Breen of the Albuquerque Fire Department said they received a report of a small fire in room 105.

"At that point, we sent out a couple engines," he said.

After the building was inspected, firemen reported a minimal amount of smoke on the first floor and evacuated the premises around 4 p.m.

Two more fire engines, paramedics and a hazardous waste unit were immediately dispatched, Breen said.

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He said the source of the smoke was a small electrical device, which was later identified as a coffee maker.

The lab where the fire took place belonged to Assistant Professor Peter Vorobieff. He said in an e-mail he wasn't present at the time of the fire.

"Apparently what happened was that a coffee maker expired, producing a bit of smoke and possibly triggering a smoke alarm," he said. "I'm not sure."

Justin Reddick, an engineering student, said he was working on a project when he smelled smoke.

"A fire marshal just happened to be there and told us to get out," he said.

Breen said it was a small fire that didn't spread beyond the object.

"It was coffee pot-sized," he said.

Penn Davis, supervisor of the mechanical engineering shop, said the incident was a big inconvenience for a small amount of smoke.

"And they didn't even offer us a cup of coffee when we're standing out here," he said.

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