Students Evacuated, Residence Hall Damaged during Campus Fire

Photo provided by Rampage student photographer Nathan LePere.

Students were evacuated and a dorm room damaged when a fire broke out inside Bluefield University’s residential facility Alumni Hall during the early morning hours of Tuesday, September 26, 2023. 

According to Kierra Brown, director of residence life, the fire started in room 216 of Alumni Hall, a resident assistant’s (RA’s) office, as a result of an electrical issue with the room’s heating unit.

“When I first arrived on the scene, I didn’t know how bad the fire was because I parked on the side closest to the Dome and could only see smoke,” Brown said about arriving on the scene. “When I ran around the building, I realized how serious it was as the flames were coming out of the windows of 216.”

Members of Campus Safety called 911 and used fire extinguishers to keep the fire contained to just the single room until local fire and rescue responders could arrive. Timothy Crabtree, an Alumni Hall resident whose room was beside the RA office, also helped contain the blaze and alert other residents.

“I found out about the fire after pulling back into the parking lot, and Alumni resident Jahari Riley was standing there and told me that there was a fire.” said Crabtree, who quickly tried to put out the flames, but couldn’t. So he started opening all the residents’ doors to tell them to evacuate. Soon after, fire fighters arrived to completely extinguish the fire.

“From there, my main concern was getting a head count and making sure all residents and any guests were out of the building,” Brown added. “Once we determined everyone was safe and accounted for, I was relieved and happy to see the fire department there to put the fire out. I was also relieved to know the fire was not in a student’s room and was only contained to the office, not affecting anyone directly.” 

Power was shut off to the whole facility, and plans were made to house students temporarily in a local hotel. Students were allowed to enter Alumni Hall to gather essential items to take with them to the hotel. Crabtree and three other students were treated for smoke inhalation, but subsequently released requiring no further medical treatment.

“The room (216) is completely done due to fire damage,” said Terrell Boston, assistant director of residence life. “The only other room affected was (Crabtree’s) room that shared a door with it. So thankfully, the fire did not pour into any other room.”

Fire inspectors have since completed their investigation of the fire, attributing the cause to an electrical issue with the room’s heating unit. Students have also returned to Alumni Hall, and plans are underway to restore the RA office in the near future.

I am most grateful to everyone who was engaged in (this) incident and ensuring the safety of our students,” President David Olive said.