Lamont Fire

Students evacuated Lamont Library at 7:40 p.m. yesterday after smoke from an overloaded air-conditioning unit in the tunnel between Lamont and Widener libraries set off a fire alarm.

While approximately 150 students reluctantly left Lamont to wait in the rain or go elsewhere to study, the Cambridge Fire Department shut off the power to the pump 20 minutes after the air-conditioner short-circuited.

Louis Martin, librarian of the College, said last night that only the air-conditioning unit was damaged.

"Luckily, there was no damage to the things that count," Martin said.

Smoke penetrated Lamont's documents room, but caused no damage, Jack Cooper, University libraries night supervisor, said last night.