On Nov. 28, an electrical fire occurred in Amstutz Hall, causing water and smoke damage. The fire started in the electrical chase on the third floor and went up to the fourth and fifth floors of the building.
Fireproof doors of the electrical closet prevented the fire from spreading to the hallway or student rooms. The Collegian was allowed inside the building to view the damage, including the burned-down electrical chases on the floors two through five. Photo or video recording on affected floors is not allowed until the insurance assessment is complete.
The fire happened when only nine of 142 students were inside, as the majority were home for the Thanksgiving break. No one was injured.
How do students feel, and what’s next? Watch our video to find out.
The fourth floor suffered the most damage, with an inch of water on the carpet and smoke pollution. The Servpro’s restoration company came to the site the next morning to dry the floors and remove the smoke odor. The building remains without electricity; power is currently supplied by multiple generators.
Students were allowed inside Amstutz Hall to pick up their belongings on Sunday, Nov. 30. Residents were instructed to come during a specific two-hour time frame between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m., depending on their floor. Residence Life officers were in the lobby of the Upper Convocation Center, checking students in to their new room assignments.
“The second and third floors are going to have male students, and our fourth floor will have female students,” said Abigail Johns, assistant director of Residence Life. A couple of students were placed in Kem, Myers and Andrews halls.
The majority of the students were relocated to Jacobs Hall, one of the oldest dormitories on campus, which was brought back into service. The building has single, double and triple rooms.
Freshman Ben Kahle said he likes his new room more than the one he had in Amstutz. “It has a lot more space here,” he said. All the washing machines in Jacobs Hall were occupied as students tried to get rid of the smoke odor. “Literally all the clothing in my room — it was all smoky, so I had to wash it off,” Kahle said.
Autumn Miller, a sophomore who lived on the fourth floor of Amstutz Hall across the hall from the electrical closet, found out about the fire on Saturday morning from YikYak, and then received an email sent out by AU’s public relations office. “I cried, I sobbed all day,” she said. There was an inch of water on Miller’s floor.
“As an art major, my portfolio was sitting on the floor of my room. I come to find out that it was completely ruined,” Miller said.
There were many volunteers — faculty, staff, administration members and students assisting residents. “It was crazy going in there and seeing everyone. Everyone was a lot of help,” said Kahle.
The university provided a limited number of carts, dollies and trash bags. Due to no power in the building, elevators and light sources were inoperable; students could only use the stairs to carry belongings. AU provided relocated students with a new sheet set, pillow, blanket and towel set. Students may document any items that need to be cleaned, repaired or replaced to receive reimbursement through the university’s insurance process.
Amstutz residents can continue parking in their assigned lot or request access to a limited number of spots in Parking Lot B, located off Samaritan Avenue.
AU rules require all freshmen to live on campus during their first year at the university. The policy will not change because there is enough space to accommodate students even without Amstutz in service.
On Nov. 24, a few days before the fire, flooding occurred on the eighth floor of Amstutz. A water heater failed, resulting in localized flooding. “These are two separate and independent events with no evident or direct correlation between them,” said Rick Ewing, vice president of facilities and planning.
A thorough investigation into the cause of the fire will take place in the coming weeks. Amstutz Hall will be closed until further notice.
