Updated at 11 a.m. Saturday

A transformer caught fire at about 2 p.m. Friday in the basement of Grawn Hall, Facilities Management officials said.

“What we think it was (was the transformer) got water saturated,” said Jay Kahn, director of facilities operations. “What we think is that water ran down the side of the tunnel.”

The transformer, which is about two feet long and two feet wide, most likely had water infiltrate it and caused the transformer to begin smoking, said Mike LeMay, supervisor of electric and maintenance mechanics.

Central Michigan University Police and the Mount Pleasant Fire Department were called at about 2:05 p.m., said CMU Police Officer Jeff Prout.

Prout said Facilities Management isolated and disconnected the power.

Kahn said the transformer supplies power to the lights that shine on the flag at Warriner Mall. He said without the lights, the flag will not fly at night.

“We’re gonna take down that flag tonight,” he said.

Sgt. Rick Beltinck of the Mount Pleasant Fire Department said there were no injuries. He said the tunnel where the transformer is is filled with smoke and said the building would reopen when the smoke was cleared.

Port Huron senior Matt Schneider said some friends and his were in the Grawn computer lab when he heard the fire alarms go off.

“Everyone thought it was a fake,” he said.

Kahn said the transformer will most likely need to be replaced.

Check cm-life.com for more updates.

E-mail the author: David Veselenak