Oak Hall fire displaces students, no injuries
A fire in Mississippi State University's Oak Hall residence hall on Sunday night will displace 198 female students, but no injuries were reported.
MSU Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Bill Broyles confirmed that a fire on the 3rd floor of the four-story residence hall was apparently caused by a candle burning in one of the rooms. Burning candles in residence hall rooms are a violation of MSU Housing policy, Broyles said.
"The fire suppression system engaged in Oak Hall exactly as it was designed to do," said Broyles. "We're grateful to be able to report that we had no injuries."
The fire alarm sounded at 8 p.m. and fire officials were on the scene at 8:07 p.m., Interim Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Ann Bailey confirmed.
Broyles said that MSU's senior administration now working to make immediate housing available tonight, then to help students assimilate into permanent housing within the MSU Housing system.
MSU President Mark E. Keenum joined the university's Crisis Action Team in the immediate planning for the university's reaction to the event, then left to visit with students displaced by the fire.
"We're actively engaged in doing everything possible to help these students deal with this very stressful event," said Keenum. "Our first responsibility is to help these students get safe, comfortable housing tonight. Then, we want to quickly get them placed in more permanent housing until repairs can be made to the residence hall. We are also making academic allowances in the form of excused absences, if necessary, for impacted students."
In addition to fire damage and smoke, Oak Hall incurred extensive water damage as part of the triggering of the hall's fire suppression system.
Sid Salter | Public Affairs
