More than 1,000 students were evacuated from the Guild of Students on the University of Birmingham campus during the popular Sports Club night at the beginning of February after a fire broke out. The incident occurred on Wednesday, 5th February, at around 2:30 am, as students were ushered out of the building by staff and security at the popular Sports Night event after a fire alarm sounded throughout the Guild. The event was then formally cancelled at 3 am, with witnesses reporting that students were forced to leave the premises and return home, with no promises of a refund after their night ended early.

Though the Guild of Students has not confirmed the cause of the fire, the Birmingham Tab has posted footage online showing a speaker on fire in the Guild’s popular ‘Underground’ venue. In the five-second video clip, the camera zooms in on a speaker underneath the stage, with visible flames climbing the stage and smoke rising, filling the room. Music can be heard playing in the background as a staff member instructs students to evacuate the area.

One attendee of the popular event, Zoe, exclusively told Redbrick News that the event was ‘surprisingly busy’ and that the evacuation ‘came as a surprise.’ She continued that ‘one minute I was dancing with friends in Joe’s Bar, and the next the music stopped and security ushered us out the door. Then we heard the fire alarms.’ Another student told Redbrick they thought it was a ‘drill’ but this was soon confirmed not to be the case.

What many thought was a drill, soon led to panic, as many students reported smelling smoke in the building, with the Tab reporting that one student spoke of her concern, saying she ‘smelt smoke coming from Underground and that’s when I realised it must be an actual fire.’

Some students feel this experience has made them reluctant to return to the Guild, as first-year student, Lucy, claimed she ‘loves sports night’, however is ‘wary to return’ after finding the evacuation ‘disorientating and poorly carried out.’

The Guild of Students have been approached for comment, however have not yet responded.

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