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View Full Version : 3 Dead after Fraternity Fire @ Ole Miss


playafly187
08-27-2004, 05:13 PM
Here are a few more pictures that I snapped earlier...

http://www.ocia.net/playafly187/ato1.jpg

http://www.ocia.net/playafly187/ato2.jpg

http://www.ocia.net/playafly187/ato3.jpg

From www.wreg.com

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) - A fire swept through a fraternity house at the University of Mississippi early Friday, killing three members, school officials said. Twenty other students and a house mother escaped the blaze at the two-story, brick- and wood-frame Alpha Tau Omega house, school spokesman Mitchell Diggs said. There were no reports of injuries.

The fire broke out before dawn, and firefighters needed about two hours to bring it under control, chapter adviser Al Bell said. Hours later, smoke billowed out of where the roof had been, and much of the upper floor was in ruins.

A fraternity member who lives off-campus and was not at the house when the fire occurred said fellow members told him they woke up coughing and found smoke "everywhere." Sean Weidlein, of Middleburg, Virginia, says they wanted to get out as fast as possible.

The victims' names were not immediately released so relatives could be notified. The university planned a news conference later Friday and some activities were canceled for the day.

Weidlein said the three who died were in his pledge class and were from Atlanta, Virginia and Mississippi. He declined to name them.

Jeff Alford, assistant vice chancellor of student relations, says authorities believed the fire started in the living area. Alford says the fraternity house had undergone a routine fire inspection Aug. 17, before students moved in for the fall semester.

Most classes began Monday. He says problems found included a lack of fire extinguishers in the kitchen area, paint stored in the basement and doors blocked with mattresses. Alford did not know of any citation issued to the fraternity. The chapter has about 100 members.

http://www.wreg.com/Global/story.asp?S=2227768

striker777
09-25-2004, 10:13 PM
Shawn did they ever find out the cause?

playafly187
10-07-2004, 11:21 PM
the last i heard, they suspected something electrical.

also, there was a fire there back in 98' (maybe 97, not sure on the year). anway, they say that the cause of that fire was never determined...

T-shirt
10-08-2004, 05:41 AM
Why weren't smoke detectors, alarms, and maybe even sprinklers REQUIRED?

playafly187
10-08-2004, 10:36 AM
sprinklers are only required in the dorms.

they had smoke detectors and alarms.

honestly, i think that many were drunk from partying the night before and may not have been awaken by the alarms

Caj Darkmoon
10-08-2004, 10:44 AM
sprinklers are only required in the dorms.

they had smoke detectors and alarms.

honestly, i think that many were drunk from partying the night before and may not have been awaken by the alarms

What?!?!! Drunk at a frat house? What is this world coming to...

That really sucks though, not the kind of thing you expect to happen.