~~ This is crazy big (see bolded parts). By the way, Joseph Henry McKinley III is the sone of Joseph H. McKinley Jr. who is a United States federal judge.
UK fire marshal recommends frat house be closed two semesters
By Jennifer Hewlett and Beverly Fortune
Lexington Herald-Leader
Monday, March 08, 2010
The University of Kentucky's fire marshal, Greg Williamson, said Monday that he has recommended that the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house, the scene of an apparent prank involving fire early Saturday, be closed for the rest of this semester and through the next semester.
Investigators discovered "multiple fire violations" at the building after a fraternity member allegedly set fire to a friend who was wrapped in toilet paper, Williamson said.
More than 40 SAE fraternity members have been relocated. UK made dormitory rooms available to them.
Sean P. Dunn, 19, of Hebron, is charged with first-degree arson, first-degree wanton endangerment and tampering with physical evidence after he allegedly struck a match, setting ablaze the toilet paper-wrapped victim.
According to court records, the victim was engulfed in flames up to his shoulders; he fell to the floor and began rolling around to extinguish the flames. The floor caught fire, and Dunn tried to stomp out the flames.
Dunn had first-degree burns on his hands, according to court records. The person who was set on fire was not taken to a hospital, UK spokesman Jimmy Stanton said.
Stanton said he was not aware of any other injuries.
Joseph Henry McKinley III, a resident of the SAE house, also was arrested on a charge of third-degree assault after he hit a UK police officer after the fire, Stanton said.
UK police found McKinley, 20, in a room as they were trying to make sure everyone had evacuated the building. McKinley indicated he did not want to leave, and an altercation followed in which McKinley struck an officer, Stanton said.
"This could have been a very serious situation. We really avoided this being a tragic situation," UK Police Chief Joe Monroe said. "Just a couple more minutes, and the student could have been seriously injured or the fire spread ... It could have been a tragedy."
Williamson said doorways were covered with blankets, and residents had rigged tentlike structures on beds using blankets, which could delay activation of the building's sprinkler system and hampers people getting out safely. Also, many candles were found during an inspection after the fire.
The house is about 10 years old.
The national chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon has suspended the UK chapter, Stanton said.
SAE was founded at UK in 1900, making it one of the oldest fraternities on campus. Famous alumni include former Kentucky governors Keen Johnson and Edward T. "Ned" Breathitt, Outback Steakhouse founder Chris Sullivan and Lexington businessman and Thoroughbred horse owner William T. Young, for whom the UK main library was named.