A small electrical fire at Pomona College’s Seaver Lab prompted evacuations and shut down a stretch of College Avenue Tuesday afternoon.

The fire, which was first reported by a faculty member around 4 p.m., was sourced in a basement electrical closet and quickly extinguished, Pomona College VP and Chief Communications Officer Marylou Ferry said.

There were no injuries.

A combination of Claremont Police officers, LA County firefighters and Campus Safety were on the scene trying to get the smoke out of the building.  The streets around College Avenue and Sixth Street were blocked off as crews worked.

Campus Safety Sgt. Roland Smith noted that a burning wire might have started the fire.

“When [the wires] burn, they send this horrific stench through the building,” Sgt. Smith said.

Staff members were observed waiting outside the College Avenue entrance to the building as fire crews worked to clear the area.

—Matthew Bramlett

news@claremont-courier.com