February 17, 2025

8:20PM: Librarians are unsure what caused the fire alarms to go off earlier this evening. Instruction Coordinator and Outreach Librarian Emily Pearson told The Wire it was unclear what, exactly, had happened.

“Something set it off,” said Pearson.

Though students were let back into the building, security guards were seen telling librarians that an alarm could still be heard going off.

On YikYak, an anonymous social media app popular at Whitman, students complained about the disruption caused by the sudden evacuation

“Why does the school always choose the worst time to do these fire drills” said one user.

Other users joked about the situation.

“Who tf pulled the library fire alarm?!? Now I’ll never be able to do my homework that’s due on Friday,” said another user.

8:12PM: Fire department has given the all-clear, students are returning to the building.

8:00PM: At roughly 7:50pm, fire alarms were triggered in Penrose Library. Students have evacuated, and the Walla Walla  Fire Department has responded. It is unclear if there is an active fire in the building, no students have reported smelling or seeing smoke. The evacuation comes just four months after Penrose Library filled with smoke due to a failed belt in the HVAC system.

This is a breaking news event, and will be updated frequently. Wire Reporter Danny Pottharst is contributing on-scene reporting.