Students wake to burning fire

A fire spread through the downstairs of 42 North Park, a student apartment, at around 7:30 this morning, charring furniture and walls.

Oberlin firefighters managed to kill the blaze in under 10 minutes. Fifteen firefighters joined the effort.

The cause of the fire, which began in the living room, remains under investigation. Fire Chief Dennis Kirin said there is no reason to believe the fire began under suspicious circumstances.

The four students asleep on the first floor escaped unharmed. Three of the students were checked for smoke inhalation at Allen Memorial Hospital and were released.

One of the students who awoke to the flames was an overnight guest.

According to Kirin, the one smoke detector in the downstairs did not operate. He said the students became aware of the fire when one of them got up for the morning, opened her door and saw smoke. She and her friend broke the window and escaped through the front, another student broke through a different window, and the other student ran through the living room and out the back door, according to Kirin.

The first call to the Oberlin Police Department was placed at 7:27 a.m. Kirin said there were several calls.

"There were good samaritans helping out there," said Sgt. Barnes of the Oberlin Police Department.

"One more time we're lucky that through some quirk of fate some students got out of the house," Kirin said. He said he has not yet checked the smoke detector to determine if the batteries were dead or had been removed.

Oberlin Resident Gary Randall, who, with his partner Margaret Baker, owns 42 North Park and a few other Oberlin houses, said their houses are inspected every fall. "[The smoke detector] was working when we left the house. I would think the tenants would check it," Randall said.

Baker said that according to the students in the house, they did not hear the alarm but it very well might have gone off. She added that she has the papers showing that the house was inspected.

Kirin said that there is moderate damage to the downstairs and smoke damage to possessions in bedrooms.

There was little damage to the upstairs. Oberlin resident John Kinney, who lives in the upstairs apartment, was not home last night, but returned this morning to survey the damage.

Kinney said he thinks he'll be able to continue living in the upstairs apartment. "It's a little smoky. It smells," Kinney said, pointing to streaks of ash on the hallway walls. He added that he thinks all that is necessary is a little clean-up.

Kirin said the house's tight construction minimized the chances of the fire spreading to the second floor.

Kinney said the downstairs roomers threw a brick through his upstairs window to warn him about the fire.

Kirin said what probably saved the students was that they all slept with their doors closed. "They were very lucky," he said.

The students are temporarily being housed in Baldwin Cottage. According to Assistant Dean of Residential Services Yeworkwha Belachew, Residential Life will continue to assist the students until the Fire Department determines the home is safe for use.

Kirin said, "I can't say enough about the College administartion and how it cares about student. They were right here making arrangements. Even though it's off-campus housing, it's still considered part of the family."

Belachew, who lives around the block, walked to the site to help the students.

Associate Dean of Residential Life Deb McNish said she heard the cause of the fire was electrical. "I think living in these old houses it's difficult for students to know if their electrical system is right," McNish said.

The house was built in 1867.

Baker said that in 27 years as a landlord she's never had a fire in any of her houses.

Kirin said the blaze had the potential to be just as damaging as the fire on East Lorain St. in October, and the fire last week on Morgan St. "Fortunately someone was home," Kirin said. "Fortunately they got up and found it."

(TOP) Where there's smoke: A student house at 42 North Park burned early this morning. (photo by John Seyfried)

Fighting the good fight: Fifteen fire fighters turned out to battle the blaze.