Flames erupted at Central Connecticut State University's F. Don James Hall, displacing around 60 students from their residence yesterday evening. According to NBC Connecticut, the fire broke out shortly after 6 p.m., prompting an immediate evacuation. Thankfully, no injuries were reported as the New Britain Fire Department rushed to extinguish the blaze.
The university's swift response allowed to quickly secure temporary accommodations for the affected students, who were initially gathered at Memorial Hall and the student center. University President Zulma Toro ensured that those from the first floor were transported to a hotel, while it was made optional for others living on higher floors to avail the same offer. "The university is grateful everyone is safe," Toro stated, as per an account obtained by AP News. The fire control systems in place, namely the dorm's sprinklers, played a crucial role in containing the situation.
Investigations conducted by the state fire marshal are currently underway to determine the cause, which Toro suspects may have been electrical in nature. In the meantime, the university has committed to providing rooms at no cost to all students affected by this unforeseen event, as detailed by Toro in statements provided to media outlets.
Moreover, to ensure the mental well-being of its student body, the university has made counseling services available. President Toro praised the students for their orderly evacuation, saying, "The students did exactly what they should in a situation like this and we are working on making them comfortable in a new space." The quick retrieval of belongings was permitted later in the evening, as students with rooms on the first floor were then shuttled to the pre-arranged hotel accommodations.
