Category Archives: Residence Hall/Dormitory

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Framingham, MA – Fire on sixth floor of university residence hall contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A fire early on Wednesday, Nov. 12, inside a sixth floor dormitory at Framingham State University was contained by the activation of the residence hall’s sprinkler system before firefighters finished it off, according to a press release from the city.

Nobody was injured. One student was displaced.

“This incident highlights the importance of quick notification, a properly functioning sprinkler system and keeping the door to the fire room closed,” said Fire Chief Michael Dutcher, in a statement. “These combined factors played a crucial role in preventing further damage and ensuring everyone’s safety.”

According to the press release, firefighters responded just before 1 a.m. Wednesday to a box alarm system notification for 16 State St., Corrinne Towers at Framingham State.

Upon arrival, firefighters were met by Framingham State University Police, who reported a fire on the sixth floor of Corrinne Towers, a residence hall. Firefighters discovered the blaze was contained by the activation of the building’s sprinkler system, according to the release.

Firefighters completed extinguishment and worked to ventilate smoke from the building. They remained at the scene until about 3 a.m., according to the release.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, although Dutcher said it appears to be accidental.

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Iowa City, IA – Sprinkler system controls residence hall fire; No injuries reported

The Iowa City Fire Department responded to a fire at Daum Residence Hall at the University of Iowa early Thursday morning.

Crews were dispatched to the residence hall at 225 N. Clinton St. for a fire alarm at 3:30 a.m.

Firefighters discovered a small fire in an unoccupied dorm room being held under control by the building’s sprinkler system. Firefighters extinguished the fire.

Fire damage was contained to the room of origin; however, water damage occurred on the first and second floors of the residence hall. Most students had evacuated the building prior to the fire department’s arrival.

There were no reported injuries.

Students displaced by the fire were relocated to other rooms or buildings by University of Iowa staff.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Iowa City Fire Marshal’s Office and the University of Iowa’s Fire Marshal.

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Greenville, NC – Sprinkler system activated for lithium-ion battery fire at university; No injuries reported

Fifteen East Carolina University students had to be relocated after a skateboard battery started a fire in a dorm room in Scott Residence Hall on Friday, ECU Police reported.

Battery-powered skateboards and scooters are not permitted inside the residence halls, police said, but a fire alarm sounded at Scott Hall about 3:58 p.m.

ECU officers responded, arriving at the scene around 4:02 p.m., and saw heavy black smoke coming from Suite 206. Both the fire alarm and the sprinkler system activated properly, and residents evacuated the residence hall, police said.

Greenville Fire-Rescue arrived at 4:05 p.m. and extinguished the fire. Police said no one was injured during the fire or evacuation.

Greenville investigators determined the cause of the fire was the skateboard’s lithium-ion battery. The N.C. Office of the State Fire Marshal says lithium-ion batteries can pose serious fire risks if overcharged, damaged or mishandled.

Greenville Fire/Rescue released the building back to ECU after their investigation was complete and Scott Hall residents were allowed to re-enter the building at approximately 5:30 p.m., ECU police said.

Two suites sustained water damage, police said, and one room was damaged by fire and smoke. In total, eight rooms occupied by the 15 residents were impacted.

ECU Campus Living relocated the students to other rooms on campus. The damaged rooms will be unavailable for an indefinite period, ECU said. A disaster recovery team led by ECU Facility Services will begin recovery and restoration efforts today, police reported.

“The safety of our students remains our top priority,” Deputy Chief Chris Sutton said. “Together, the ECU Police Department and Greenville Fire-Rescue responded, extinguished the fire, investigated, identified its cause and safely returned students to their residence in about one-and-a-half hours.

“This achievement was only possible through the combined efforts of the ECU divisions: Campus Living, Facility Services and Environmental Health and Campus Safety.”

Lithium-ion batteries are common, according to the OSFM. They power items ranging from smartphones, laptops and power tools to e-cigarettes, toys and electric vehicles.

The batteries can experience thermal runaway — a rapid rise in temperature and pressure that may lead to fire or explosion. This can be triggered by:

  • Overcharging: Charging beyond recommended limits.
  • Internal short circuits: Structural damage causing overheating.
  • Mechanical damage: Impacts or punctures.
  • High temperatures: Exposure to extreme heat.
  • Manufacturing defects: Low-quality materials or assembly errors.

The office encourages consumers to buy batteries from reputable sources and ensure they are labeled by nationally recognized testing labs; stop charging once a battery is fully charged; use only chargers compatible with the device, preferably the one that came with it; and not to use devices if the battery shows damage: unusual odor, heat, popping sounds, swelling or discoloration.

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Tucson, AZ – Fire at university dorm extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Some University of Arizona students were displaced from their dorm following a fire on Thursday, Oct. 9.

The Tucson Fire Department confirmed crews were called to the Gila Residence Hall, located at 1009 East James E. Rogers Way, for a small fire around 7 p.m.

The TFD said the dorm’s sprinkler system put out the flames before crews arrived. There were no reported injuries, according to the TFD and the University of Arizona Police Department.

Some of the students had to find a new place to sleep on Thursday, and 13 News reached out to the university to see what is being done for those affected.

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Claremont, CA – Sprinkler system activated for fire at college residence hall; No injuries reported

A small fire broke out in a second floor residence hall room in Marks Hall at Claremont McKenna College this morning. No one was injured. 

The sprinkler system was activated in response to the fire, which began just before 8:00 a.m., and the Los Angeles Fire Department quickly made it to the scene. The fire department is still determining the fire’s cause, according to an email from Associate Vice President Alex Boekelheide to the CMC community.

There was some water and smoke damage to five residence hall rooms.

“The Dean of Students Office has set up a staging area in McKenna Auditorium for the residents until the building is cleared later this morning,” the email read. “We will work with the impacted residents to relocate them, inventory and replace any damaged belongings, and to support students emotionally throughout the situation and beyond.”

CMC has not provided TSL with any further information on the fire, or whether the building is now clear.

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Cincinnati, OH – Sprinkler system activated for fire on university campus; No injuries reported

Two buildings on the University of Cincinnati’s campus will be closed for at least another day after a fire that caused a power outage.

According to a UC spokesperson, a fire broke out in Rhodes Hall and was quickly under control as a result of the building’s fire suppression system.

No one was injured but the sprinkler system damaged the electric systems in Rhodes and Baldwin Halls.

The buildings will be closed for the next 24 to 48 hours as officials investigate the cause of the fire, conduct clean up and temporarily relocate research projects as necessary.

Officials said the electrical systems the Mantei Center, Rieveshl and Zimmer Halls were temporarily turned off for about an hour as a precaution, but those building are now fully operational.

The cause of the fire is still being determined.

Officials say they do not anticipate any impact on the start of classes next Monday.

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Springfield, MO – Fire at university extinguished by sprinkler system

A small fire broke out in Craig Hall on Sunday evening, prompting the Springfield Fire Department, University Safety, Facilities Management and Planning, Design and Construction to respond. 

According to a Missouri State University blog post, the fire was small enough to be extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system, limiting the extent of the damage. Fortunately for the school, the sprinklers only activated in the area that the fire was located, saving thousands of dollars in electronics such as computers and projectors.

The fire reportedly was sparked by a fan coil motor that burned up in the ceiling of the building — the same reason for the fire in Carrington Hall on May 23.

A university spokesperson told The Standard that the university is assessing the damage to the area of the fire and whether it will impact classes for the fall semester, but that it did not impact the ongoing Asbestos abatement.

According to the blog post, Missouri State is working with FM Global, the school’s insurance company, on filing a claim for the fire.

College/University (on campus), Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential, School / University

Macomb, IL – Sprinkler system activated for fire at university hall

A fire at Western Illinois University Grote Hall led to $20,000 in damages. The sprinkler system prevented the fire from spreading.

At 8:55 p.m., Wednesday, January 15, the Macomb Fire Department was dispatched to a water flow alarm at Grote Hall, 720 W Adams Street on the campus of Western Illinois University (WIU) in Macomb.

While enroute, the WIU Office of Public Safety (OPS) advised that they had smoke and flames in room 410. The first arriving units arrived on scene at 9:01 p.m. and began high-rise standpipe operations. Fire command made contact with OPS who had discharged two fire extinguishers on the fire.

The interior firefighting crew stretched a hose line to the fire room and finished extinguishing the fire. The fire was contained to a waste basket in the room.

The fire activated a sprinkler within the closet of the room and kept the fire from spreading. Multiple rooms sustained smoke and water damage and at least two residents were displaced.

Four on-duty firefighters responded to the call and nine additional firefighters responded to a crew callback. Emmet- Chalmers and Good Hope Fire Departments responded to the scene and assisted with primary searches of the building.

The fire was deemed under control at 9:12 PM. All units cleared at 11:21 p.m. One firefighter was transported to a local hospital for observation and was treated and released.

A smoke alarm was present in the room, however, did not alarm due to the device being obstructed by the resident. Once the sprinkler system activated the water flow alarm notified OPS dispatch of the fire.

The structure sustained fire, smoke, and water damage throughout and has an estimated loss of $20,000. The fire was investigated by the Macomb Fire Department and WIU OPS. The fire was deemed unintentional due to improper disposal of ignited materials.

The Macomb Fire Department wants to again remind citizens that smoke detectors are essential safety devices that play a crucial role in protecting lives and property by providing early warning of smoke or fire. Tampering with smoke detectors can lead to criminal charges.

The following agencies assisted: McDonough County Communications Center, Macomb IL Police, WIU OPS, WIU Support Staff, Lifeguard Ambulance Service of Illinois, Emmet- Chalmers FPD, Good Hope FPD, and the City of Macomb Public Works.

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Phoenix, AZ – Sprinkler system activated for fire at university; No injuries reported

An unknown number of Grand Canyon University students were displaced after a fire broke out at a mid-rise residential building near the school Sunday morning.

Cpt. Shaun DuBois, a spokesperson for Phoenix fire, said firefighters were dispatched to the six-story building at around 9:30 a.m. after a fire alarm went off on the building’s third floor. DuBois said firefighters who first arrived at the scene did not see any smoke or flames from the outside but quickly accessed the third floor where they saw smoke in the hallway.

DuBois added that the building’s fire sprinklers had activated and successfully kept the fire in check as firefighters fully extinguished the fire.

“The combination of fire sprinkler activation and quick actions by firefighters prevented further damage and fire extension into the structure,” DuBois said in a statement. “Occupants were alerted by fire alarms and had evacuated the building prior to fire department arrival.”

DuBois said there were no reported injuries related to the fire. Staff with the department’s community assistance program are working with GCU staff to support the students who would be temporarily displaced, although it was not immediately known how many students would be impacted or for how long.

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

Normal, IL – Sprinkler system contains fire at university housing

It remains unclear what caused a fire at Watterson Towers South Tower at Illinois State University Wednesday afternoon.

The Normal Fire Department said a call came in around 4:20 PM Wednesday for an activated fire alarm.

While en route, numerous other calls came in that there was reported smoke in the building near the second-floor fitness center.

A search of the second floor led firefighters to find an activated fire sprinkler and a fire in a staff workroom that is connected to the fitness center. The fire was put out, while other firefighters searched the top floor and the floors above and below for any fire spread.

The Normal Fire Department says there is fire and smoke damage, but it is contained within the staff work room, while there is water throughout the second floor as a result of the fire sprinkler system and fire suppression efforts.

Public Information Officer Matt Swaney said the second floor at Watterson Towers South Tower is not a residential floor, and mainly houses the fitness center, and several offices and work rooms.

“The second floor is below any of the residential floors and no students are displaced. The second floor will remain closed while Illinois State University coordinates clean up and restoration work to the area,” said Swaney in a press release.

The building has reopened to students and it was turned back over to Illinois State University shortly after 6:30 PM.

No damage estimate is available.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Normal Fire Department and Illinois State University.

Reporting on lives and property saved by fire sprinklers

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