February 23, 2004 -- An electrical fire broke out in a Hofstra University dormitory last night, forcing students to be evacuated for about two hours, fire officials said.
No one was injured in the smoky blaze, which started in the elevator-control room on the first floor of Nassau Hall at 9:40 p.m.
"The initial reports were a lot worse than what it really was," Nassau County Fire supervisor Charlie Parker said, adding that the fire was under control in 25 minutes and that all the students were safely evacuated.
"This building is notorious for false alarms," said sophomore Brian Clarke, 19, who lives on the fourth floor of the six-story dorm.
"We didn't take it seriously until they got to the second floor. That's when we started to smell the smoke. Everybody began to get serious and went to the fire exits."
About 700 students were evacuated, a university official said. The cause is under investigation.
