I wanted to post this article as we continue to provide education and training for college campuses. This fire occurred at Washington State University. Thank goodness, no injuries or student deaths, but over $500,000 in property damage. This fire started in the most common place of college apartment fires: the kitchen. Please read for your own education. – Steve Smith
This story appears in the Daily Evergreen:
A kitchen fire destroyed several units in the D building of the Chief Joseph Village apartments early Saturday morning. The fire started just before 5 a.m.
By the time help arrived, the fire had engulfed the entire staircase at the entrance of the D complex. At times, the flames were 20 feet high.
The fire, which has since been ruled an accident, caused about $500,000 in damage, according to a city press release. The fire started in unit D-5. WSU is still finding housing, dining and clothing situations for displaced students.
Pullman Fire Deputy Chief Ryan Scharnhorst said the damage was contained to the 12-unit D building of the complex. No injuries were reported.
Within D, two units were destroyed, three have water damage and six more have smoke damage, said Rich Dragoo, Pullman’s fire prevention officer.
On Saturday, the evacuated tenants were given Cougar CASH for food. They camped out in the apartments’ recreation room, waiting to hear where they should go.
Tenants in other buildings were let back into their homes later that day. WSU Housing and Dining Services brought food to the residents, according to a WSU news release. WSU President Elson S. Floyd also visited.
Senior history major Rebekah Roberts had been asleep for 45 minutes when her roommates pounded on her door and told her the building was on fire. At first, she thought it was a joke.
“Our apartment is pretty lively, so it’s not unusual to hear noises,” she said. “The fire alarms didn’t go off in our whole building. Luckily, the people in our building went door to door and said, ‘You have to get out.’ ”
Elyssa Yunker, a senior fine arts and psychology major, lived in the lower D apartments. At first, she thought there was a fight until people began banging on her door about the fire.
Since WSU owns the apartment buildings, the university will release the specifics of the investigation this week, Dragoo said.
Ria Buford, a senior communication major, is friends of the residents from the top floor, where the fire hit hardest. Some of the residents are staying with friends, she said.
“Four people lost their homes,” she said. “Four people lost their everything.”
Ritzi Shelton, a junior communication major, shared a similar story. “The first thing they grabbed was each other,” she said. “Nothing materialistic.”
Please read the full story of the campus fire. This fire may have been prevented with the use of a Stove Ranger.
