Unless indicated otherwise, the following information has been taken from
press accounts and has not been verified for accuracy.

In today's update...
   Laboratory Fire
   Fraternity Fire
   Dormitory Fires (2)
   Off-Campus Fire, Update, Lawsuit

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1/15/01
Texas Tech
Lubbock, Texas

A student's chemical experiment caused a fire in a chemistry building.  The
student observed liquids from the experiment catch fire and attempted to
extinguish it with a fire extinguisher.  He was unable to extinguish it and
left to get a larger one.  Upon his return the fire had grown too large, and
he yelled for assistance.  An assistant professor responded, closed the
doors and notified the fire department.

The building is unsprinklered.

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1/15/01
Kansas University
Lawrence, Kansas

The following information was provided by Fire Marshal Barr.

No one injured in room fire at KU Fraternity House

No one was injured in a fire early Monday in a room at the Phi Delta Theta
fraternity house, 1621 Edgehill Rd.

The fire activated a sprinkler system and was extinguished by the time
Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical units arrived, Battalion Chief Bill
Stark said.

Damage was listed at $600.00.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation however it appears that
the equipment involved was a portable fan that came in contact with a
curtain, causing the fan to overheat. The fraternity was evacuated for a
short period. It was unclear as to how many residents may have been at the
house.

Mary Remus, director of the house, said the residence was built in 1989 and
has always had sprinklers.

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1/16/01
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan

The following information was provided by Robert Patrick.

Fire at South Quad Residence Hall at University of Michigan.  A smoke
detector activated the building fire alarm system around 1:30om 1-16-01.  A
check of the building located smoke coming from the elevator mechanical room
above the 9th floor of the building.  Ann Arbor Fire Department extinguished
the fire.  The building was evacuated during the fire but residents were
allowed to reenter shortly after the fire was extinguished.  No injuries.
Damage confined to elevator motor.  Damage estimate unknown at this time.

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01/16/01
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California

Update.  A lawsuit has been filed against the landlord of a house where a
student and her parents were killed in a fire in August, 2000.  The sole
surviving family member has filed the suit, claiming that the furnace that
caused the fire was not maintained and was malfunctioning, there were no
smoke detectors and that the windows on the second floor, where the victims
were found, were inoperable.

The fire was determined to have been started when a box left on top of the
dining room furnace was ignited.  The fire department was unable to find any
evidence of smoke detectors in the building.  The windows on the second
floor were alleged to have been painted shut and inoperable.

A fourth occupant in the building was able to jump from a second-story
window.

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01/16/01
St. Martins
Lancaster, UK

A fire started when a pan was left unattended on a cooker ignited.  An
18-year old female was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.  Twenty
students were evacuated from student accommodations.

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End

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