

http://admin.brightcove.com/js/BrightcoveExperiences.js







A fire late Monday at a sorority house on University Hill did as much as $1 million in damage to the residence, and it is not clear whether it can be repaired before the 62 students who live there return from winter break.

The cause of the fire at Kappa Alpha Theta, 1333 University Ave., is still under investigation, though authorities believe it was accidental. The building had been inspected recently and was code compliant.

The fire was reported at 9:21 p.m. Monday. The attic — which is not covered by the building’s sprinkler system — was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived, according to Kim Kobel, a Boulder Fire Department spokeswoman.

The only person in the house at the time was the house mother. She was not injured.

Boulder Chief Fire Marshal David Lowrey said the damage to the house was substantial and could top $1 million.

The northwest portion of the roof is damaged, and there is significant water damage to the house, Lowrey said. The gas also was shut off to the building.

The house is not habitable at this time.

University of Colorado spokesman Bronson Hilliard said the university’s housing and Greek affairs offices are working with the sorority to determine what types of assistance the residents might need.

Right now, no one knows if the damage can be fixed by the time students return from winter break. Hilliard said 62 students were scheduled to live in the sorority house in the spring semester.

When students are affected by a fire, the university works with them to find alternative housing and loaner computers or books, if necessary. The university also lets their professors know they’ve been affected by a fire, Hilliard said.

The sorority house was required to have sprinklers because it is a multi-family dwelling, but attics are not required to have sprinklers if they are not used for living space or storage, Lowrey said. This attic was not used for either.

Lowrey said sprinklers are life safety systems designed to allow residents to get out of a burning building before they are overcome by smoke or flames. That’s why they are only required in certain parts of buildings.

Lowrey said the cause of the fire is still under investigation but it is believed to be accidental.

A police report indicated the house mother was asleep on the couch when a Boulder police officer saw her, woke her up and got her out of the burning building. However, the woman told Lowrey that she was awake when she heard sirens.

The reason for the discrepancy was not immediately clear this morning.

Michael Pearl, 23, a recent CU graduate, was sitting on his porch at 1345 Grandview Ave. with his roommate when the pair saw smoke coming from the roof of the sorority house. He called 911 as he and his roommate walked toward the house, calling to see if anyone was inside.

Pearl said they banged on the door, but no one answered. A few minutes later, the police arrived and “kicked in” the door. Pearl said they led an older woman out of the house with two dogs.

When firefighters arrived, they punched a hole in the roof, Pearl said.

“The whole freakin’ roof was on fire,” he said.

The house mother was displaced by the fire, but she had a friend she could stay with, Kobel said.

Lowrey said the house had working smoke detectors and fire alarms. The house was last inspected in September and found to be code compliant.

However, the house mother did not report hearing any fire alarms. Lowrey said the fire was contained to the attic and was venting through the roof. When firefighters entered the building, there was no smoke on the lower floors.

The house mother lives in an apartment on the first floor.

Kobel said the fire was called in by a neighbor who saw smoke coming from the building.

Students had moved out of the house for winter break on Friday. Firefighters searched all three floors and didn’t find anyone else in the home.

One firefighter was taken to the hospital with a sprained ankle, officials said. No one else was injured in the fire, Kobel said.

At least 30 firefighters were involved in battling the blaze. It was contained by 10:30 p.m., though clean-up continued late into the night.

http://www.youtube.com/v/FZDRvAG7QxE?version=3&hl=en_US