Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential, Residential High Rise Iowa City, IA – Late night fire on 9th floor of University of Iowa residence hall held in check by sprinkler system; No injuries November 3, 2015 viking210 A fire on the ninth floor of Slater Residence Hall did minor damage to the University of Iowa building early Saturday morning. According to a news release from the Iowa City Fire Department, firefighters arrived at Slater Hall, 325 S. Grand Ave., at about 1:24 a.m. Saturday, four minutes after receiving an alarm for a fire on the ninth floor. When firefighters arrived, all occupants of the structure had evacuated the building, according to the release. The fire was contained to a single dorm room. The building’s sprinkler system helped keep the fire in check, according to the release, and the fire was extinguished within six minutes. No civilians or firefighters were injured by the fire. Minimal smoke and fire damage was reported to the building, according to the release, and two students were displaced from their dorm by fire damage. A release from UI Department of Strategic Communications Saturday said that “there is significant water damage on several floors.” A second release on Sunday confirmed that only two students remained displaced by the fire and were being provided with temporary housing in Slater while their room was repaired. UI spokeswoman Jeneane Beck had said Saturday it was likely “very few” residents displaced and that they had been provided rooms. Sprinklers had only been activated in the areas effected by the fire, Beck said. UI is still waiting on a damage estimate. Beck added that the dorm had its annual fall fire drill in September, so residents were prepared for the evacuation. Estimated cost of damage and the cause of the fire were not known as of Saturday morning, though both were still being investigated. The UI release said that the fire “appears to have been unintentional.” University of Iowa Police, Iowa City Police, Johnson County Ambulance Service and University of Iowa Facilities supported the ICFD at the scene.
