On Monday, Feb. 2, a significant fire broke out in the Sherman-Hassenfeld building. At 3:23 p.m, an email was sent out via the Brandeis Alert system stating, “There is ongoing fire activity at Sherman-Hassenfeld. Please remain away from the area. Follow Public Safety detours as directed. If you need to leave campus, use the Cedarwood gate exit when departing from upper campus or the Tower Lot.”
Photos and videos of the scene showed a massive cloud of white smoke enveloping Sherman-Hassenfeld and blowing into the adjacent Shapiro Campus Center. Several emergency vehicles, including fire engines from the Waltham Fire Department, police cars and an ambulance, could be seen parked outside of Sherman-Hassenfield. By around 3:40, the fire appeared to have been put out, but a large volume of smoke could be seen through an open door leading to the main hall of the Hassenfield Conference Center.
At 5:20 p.m, a second email was sent out, this time from Stew Uretsky, Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, and Matthew Rushton, Associate Vice President of Campus Operations and Chief Safety Officer. The email read: “Following Monday afternoon’s fire at Sherman Dining Hall and the ongoing remediation, Sherman Dining Hall and Hassenfeld Conference Center will remain closed through Tuesday, February 3.” Dining services were instead offered at Usdan Dining Hall. Uretsky and Rushton promised that additional information would be released once it became known.
A second update from Uretsky and Rushton was sent out around five p.m. the next day, Feb. 3, sharing that there were no injuries from the fire. They reiterated that dining options would be available at Usdan and the various retail locations “while Sherman Dining Hall undergoes remediation.” Furthermore, they announced that “The Hassenfeld Conference Center is currently closed,” and that “any organizations or groups with upcoming events scheduled there in the next two weeks should reach out to University Events for additional information.”
The Hoot has reached out to Uretsky and Rushton for comment.
