Frat house fire may have been electrical
A UW-Whitewater student suffered smoke inhalation and minor cuts and bruises in a fire at the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity house early Monday morning, according to a news release from the university.
The Janesville Gazette originally reported that none of the 10 residents were injured.
The student was treated at the scene. It was the only injury stemming from the 2:48 a.m. blaze at 1238 W. Main St., a house off campus.
The fire started in a northwest bedroom. Five of the residents and a dog were home at the time of the fire, according to the release. Only five of the 10 residents were students, according to the release.
All of the residents have found temporary housing. The university is assisting with finding permanent housing.
An electrical fire may have been the cause but the official cause has yet to be determined, according to the release. Damage was estimated at more than $300,000.
The building will need complete interior restoration, according to fire officials.
It was the second fire at the fraternity in nearly 12 years.
The TKE house suffered a fire on Feb. 29, 1996, according to the release.
That fire started about 4:30 a.m. and caused major damage to three upper apartments. The rest of the house had smoke and water damage.
There were no reports of serious injuries to fraternity members, however the house's dog, Axel, died in the 1996 fire, according to the release.
Nov 13, 2007 at 9:22 a.m.
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Clarification -- this article was also yesterday's article....the article posted early yesterday reported that the dog was okay.
Nov 13, 2007 at 9:21 a.m.
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Yesterday's article reported that the dog was fine.
Nov 13, 2007 at 1:22 a.m.
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the dog is fine, no harm to him, my husband is a firefighter and was there, and the dog is fine. no serious injuries at all.
Nov 12, 2007 at 9:59 p.m.
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Was the dog ok in this fire? Why would you mention the dog and that the last fire in 1996 killed that dog died and then not mention if this dog is OK? Is it just me or is it frustrating reading some of these articles and its as if they ran out of time and could'nt finish t------------------------------to be continued. I'll finish when they finish!
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