At approximately 1:54 today, a fire alarm started going off at Sid Smith, triggered as a response to a fire in room 2019, a second-floor faculty office in the Human Resources wing of the building. U of T Fire Prevention Officer Wally Griswold confirmed to The Varsity that the fire originated from an overheated fan coil in the building’s heating system. 

Students and faculty immediately evacuated the building, and the fire department, called by Arts & Sciences Chief Administrative Officer Mary Lyne, arrived on the scene within fifteen minutes.

By 2:18 pm, the fire appeared to be out, and at 2:35, students were allowed back into the building. Toronto Police Services, Campus Safety, and U of T facilities services arrived on the scene to investigate. 

The Arts & Sciences Faculty Registrar’s office has not made any announcements about class cancellations.

This article will be updated with further details as the story develops.

Editor’s note (January 8, 4:20 pm): The article has been updated with details of the fire’s origin.