[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Smoke in Fraternity a Results in Evacuation

[Press Releases]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Battalion Chief Steven Sapp
(573) 874-7557  Office  M-F 8-5
(573) 499-7035  Media Pager - Enter Phone Number to Call Back

Smoke in Fraternity a Results in Evacuation

COLUMBIA, MO (November 8, 2011) - At 12:31 PM on Tuesday, November 8, 2011, Columbia Fire crews were dispatched to 24 East Stewart Road, the Tau Kappa Episilon fraternity for a report of smoke in the building.

While enroute to the scene, Public Safety Joint Communications advised that a delivery truck had struck and pulled the electrical service drop away from the building and that the power to the building was now out. In addition, several light fixtures in the basement were smoking and there was a smoke odor on the 3rd floor of the building.

Fire units arrived to find the building being evacuated and some light smoke coming from the roof area. Fire crews also found that the electrical service drop was still draped over the delivery truck, however the driver was out of the truck and was not injured. 

Fire crews spent about two hours using thermal imaging camera's searching for any hidden fire in walls, ceilings, and floors as the power surge ran through the entire buildings wiring. Crews found one small area on the third floor in the floor where over-heated wiring charred the floor joice. The area was isolated and posed no additional threat of fire or smoke spread.

During the time the building was evacuated, the Columbia Fire Department Bus 76 provided temporary shelter for the roughly 20 residents which were in the building at the time of the event.

Linemen from Columbia Water and Light disconnected the service drop and the building was without power for several hours.

A representative from the property maintenance company was on the scene and a certified electrician was also on the scene. By 3:00 PM, the electrician had inspected the wiring and was working with the division of Building and Site Development and Water and Light to connect power to the building. It is expected that the residents of the fraternity will be able to stay in the building tonight.

There were no injuries and damage was very minimal to the structure, estimated at less than $1,000.00.

 

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