Employees at the Compton Union Building had to rearrange some furniture recently after WSU’s fire marshal noticed a potentially hazardous blocked exit.

Fire Marshal Rod Holmes was conducting a regular inspection on Sept. 2 when he found a number of tables and chairs obstructing an exit corridor on the second floor. Holmes then issued a citation.

Some items were removed from the CUB, while others were moved to different parts of the building, said Karee Shaw, the CUB’s senior associate director.

People tend to panic in emergency situations, Holmes said, and so it’s important they can exit a building quickly and safely.

“The CUB put the furniture there to be a convenience for students,” he said. “However, life safety trumps convenience every time.”

After a follow-up inspection the CUB will be deemed compliant with international fire safety codes.

Reporting by Alysha Davis