Royal Purple

Issue date: 11/28/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Alison Wisneski A fire displacing ten students began in a second floor bedroom.

A fire at 406 Center St. around 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 27, displaced 10 UW-Whitewater students. No injuries were reported.

Kristin Maturo, Ashley Huff, Alyssa Bandsma, Katie Kaczmarski, Erin Othrow, Jeffrey Weber, Nicholas Huberty, Jason Vaughan, Ryan Krueger and Jessica Leeman lived in a duplex owned by Stettler Property. Shirley Filarski, of Stettler Property, said they are waiting to hear from the insurance company and other officials before moving anyone back into the house.

Whitewater Police Department Sgt. Mike Ciardo said the cause of the fire has "not yet been determined."

However, Whitewater Police Chief James Coan said the fire appeared to have originated form a second floor bedroom.

"It was thought to be electrical, but that is the preliminary findings," Coan said.

The ten students are currently staying at the Amerihost Hotel. The authorities have not given them clearance to move back into the house as of 1 p.m. Nov. 28.

"One side will need construction work," Ciardo said. "The other side will be ready shortly, but I don't know what shortly means."

Although the fire displaced the ten students, Ciardo said it was not as damaging as the fire at the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity house earlier this month.

"[It was] a fairly minor fire in nature," Ciardo said. "They're all being taken care of."

The American Red Cross has assisted the students with temporary housing and food, and will continue to do so for three days, Kate Hinze, spokeswoman for the American Red Cross, said.

Although the fall semester is almost over, the students will need to find lodging for the three remaining weeks if they are not able to move back into the duplex.

"It's not a long period of time, but they will still need a place to stay," Hinze said.

UW-Whitewater will work with students to replace books and help with coursework if needed, a UW-Whitewater news release said.

"Again, we are thankful that no one was seriously injured in this fire. Our first concern is for the safety of our students. We will provide whatever support is necessary to assist these students," Interim Chancellor Richard Telfer said in the news release.

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