Hookah to blame for MU fraternity fire, officials say

Firefighters respond to a structural fire at the Sigma Chi fraternity on Sunday night. At appoximately 8:41 p.m. a fire broke out in a third floor room. The Columbia Fire Department was able to contain the fire to the room. No residents were injured.   ¦  MATTHEW CAVANAH/Missourian

COLUMBIA — An unattended *hookah caused a fire on the third floor of a MU fraternity Sunday evening, Battalion Chief Steve Sapp of the Columbia Fire Department said. No one was injured in the fire.

The fire started about 8:41 p.m. in room 305, setting off an alarm at the Sigma Chi fraternity house at 500 S. College Ave. , Sapp said.

As Columbia fire crews were responding to the alarm, a caller from the fraternity reported that there was a fire. About 30 fraternity members and guests were evacuating when crews arrived.

Domnic DeFao, a fraternity member who lives in room 306, was first to see the fire around the windowsill, Sapp said. DeFao attempted to put out the fire with water but could not. Dan *Heger*, another occupant of the house, then found a fire extinguisher on the first floor and used it to minimize flames.

Fire fighters found smoke as they entered the third floor and were drawn to room 305 by heavier smoke and intense heat. Sapp said officials were then able to extinguish the fire below the window in the southwest corner of the room.

The damage is estimated to range from $5,000 to $10,000. Damage includes the window, the sill, areas torn out to check wall studs and personal belongings, Sapp said.

A fatality fire occurred in May 1999 on the same floor of Sigma Chi fraternity house.