A large group of firefighters from around Orange County rushed to a blaze that broke out at Chapman University on Sunday morning, Aug. 23.
“We have a working incident — an active fire at Chapman University,” said a fire dispatch operator with the Metro City Fire Authority at around 11 a.m. “It is not a drill.”
The dispatcher, who identified herself only as “Operator 43”, said seven different fire departments were sent to the university, at One University Drive, near the Orange Plaza in Old Towne.
The Anaheim Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials squad may also be at the scene, said Bob Hitchcock, a spokesperson for the university.
“I do not see any smoke,” Hitchcock said, after just arriving. He was standing in the middle of campus.
As of shortly before noon, there were no official reports from the university or the Orange Fire Department about the fire. Photos from the scene show the focus was the Keck Center for Science and Engineering.
Neighbors who declined to go on the record because they work at Chapman University said they heard alarms blaring from a building before firefighters arrived.
This is a developing story. More information will be added when it is available.