|
Fire interrupts sorority initiation
An unattended candle causes fire
at Chi Omega house
By Colleen McGinness
Collegian Co-Editor-in-Chief
What started as a bonding experience on the
final night of the Chi Omega sorority's initiation week turned
into the evacuation of 40 women when an unattended burning candle
started a fire in the college-owned house.
According to residents, a gust of wind blew
a sheet used to cover a window for initiation ceremonies. The
sheet blew into the candle, setting the contents of Room 2 on
fire.
Rich Péwé, vice president of
the administration, said damages could reach $20,000.
"We were very lucky, it could have been
a lot worse," Péwé said. "The fire department
did a great job containing the fire."
Forty of the sorority's members were in the
basement participating in initiation activities when the fire
alarm sounded. Senior Colleen Anderson and junior Julia Parsons
attempted to put the flames out with a fire extinguisher but
were unsuccessful.
"The fire just blew up in our face,"
Parsons said. "We couldn't breathe, so we went outside."
Firefighters from the Hillsdale Fire Department
arrived on the scene within minutes and were able to contain
the fire in the room. Several nearby rooms were heavily damaged
from the smoke.
"The fire never made it out of that room,"
Lieutenant Steve McDowell said. "That was our goal, and
we accomplished it."
Sophomores Shanna Pendleton and Julie Tedesco,
who lived in Room 2, lost nearly all of their belongings in
the fire.
"I cannot describe the feeling when you
walk in a room and everything you own is destroyed," Tedesco
said. "It was like walking into a bad dream."
All technological equipment, such as computers,
speakers, CDs, DVDs and telephones, was destroyed. Despite the
expense of the destroyed items, Tedesco said the hardest part
was losing priceless memories.
Tedesco is transferring to Central Michigan
University next semester and said she lost many of her Hillsdale
mementos, such as pictures from her birthday party and Chi Omega
keepsakes.
"All those precious memories are done
for," she said. "They're burnt to a crisp."
The 27 residents were relocated and spent
Sunday night in the Dow Center. Sophomores Christina Aldrich,
Shannon Williamson, Kate Zuiker and Tedesco have all moved to
Benzing Residence for the remainder of the semester. Pendleton
is staying in a guest room at the Chi Omega house.
Péwé was on the scene and immediately
called the college's insurance company and local cleanup crews.
Péwé said he hoped to keep the
costs under $20,000. The rooms have to be cleaned and the carpets
replaced. The walls are also being inspected, and the drywall
might have to be replaced.
"It's just things," Chi Omega President
Wendy Miedema said. "I'm just glad everyone is OK."
Péwé said that despite a strict
no-candle policy, the college would cover the costs of the damage.
The school has a blanket insurance policy for all their buildings
with a $50,000 deductible. Since the damage is less than the
deductible, the college has to foot the bill.
"Hopefully everyone has learned
their lesson," Péwé said. "We just want
everyone to understand candles just aren't allowed in residences.
We try to continually remind people it's for their safety."
|
